LASA Q Focus Magazine - Leading Age Services Australia ...

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RETIREMENTLIVINGto the Transport Housing andLocal Government Committeethe task to review the RetirementVillages Act 1999 (the Act).The Committee reported inNovember with the Governmentresponding in the affirmativethat they would endorse allthe recommendations in theCommittee’s report whilestating that many would besubject to a Regulatory ImpactStatement assessment. Thiswas reassuring to the industryas the Committee’s findingswere strong on impression butlimited on evidence and fact.This was not surprising giventhe tight deadlines with whichit had to contend. LASA Q metwith the new Minister, the HonTim Mander, in February 2013about the likely impact of therecommendations as stated andhad an opportunity to raisea number of the industry’sconcerns. Subsequently theManager Retirement Living wasinvited to be on the RetirementVillages Ministerial WorkingParty for the first stage of theconsultative process whichcommenced on the 15th March2013. The other Industryrepresentative is from the RLC,while there are four consumergroups represented – COTA,National Seniors, ARQRV andCaxton Street’s Seniors LegalSupport Services. At this timeLASA Q also represents ACSA.Additionally, the Elder LawCommittee of the QueenslandLaw Society is representedwhich is important consideringthe legislative impact of anylikely changes arising fromthe implementation of anyrecommendations.This Working Party is dueto wind up at the end of thefinancial year. It is hopedthat by the end of June, anumber of the less contentiousrecommendations can besupported, including a moresimplified PID which has beenworked on with LASA Q, the RVA(now RLC) and ARQRV sinceearly 2012. This is more exigentnow that NSW has released asimplified Disclosure Documentand a standardised contracttemplate (the latter not supportedby the industry). The NSWDisclosure Document appears tooffer advantage as it appears lessconfusing to potential residents.Throughout the Working Party’slife, there has been a strong pushfor better practices and qualityof operations by the industryaround governance standardswhich LASA Q members wouldsupport wholeheartedly.Activities on other legislativereviews impacting on seniorshousing• A submission on theReview of the ResidentialTenancies and RoomingAccommodation Act 2008was provided to Governmentin December 2012. Thereview was directed tomachinery type matters andany outcomes should not becontentious to members.• A Submission on the Reviewof the Queensland Civil andAdministrative TribunalAct 2009 was provided toQCAT in February 2013. TheConsultation document issuedby QCAT was a technicalone requiring detailed input.To date there has not beenany follow up informationprovided by the tribunal.LASA Q’s recommendationsincluded:>>principles of accessibility,affordability, fairness, naturaljustice, quality, independencemust be to the fore in QCAT’sfuture administration>>the reluctance to allow legalrepresentation for a schemeoperator does disadvantage anoperator from a small villageunused to formal legal processesand those up against a skilledconsumer representative>>As QCAT’s Annual Reports2009/10 and 2010/11 do notreveal any information onhow many retirement villagedispute applications have beenlodged and acted upon, this isan oversight for benchmarkingpurposes>>LASA Q encourages QCATto develop Fact Sheets for theindustry that spell out all thesteps in the processes at thedifferent stages of a dispute andoffer training for the industry.• Review of the Draft StatePlanning Act is underwayat this time. The Chair andother experts from LASA Q’sProperty and DevelopmentGroup will provide detailedinput for this important pieceof legislation. The Submissionis due in early June.Geri TaylorManager Retirement LivingLASA Q12LASA-Q Focus | Autumn edition 2013
The Power is Yours!Aged Care Group Electricity Purchase – ACT NOW!National Energy Solutions (NES) has joined LASA Q and is conducting a group electricity purchase foraged care facilities.We are an independent energy consulting firm offering a unique approach to Commercial and IndustrialElectricity Contract Tendering and Network Tariff Analysis.NES attract better pricing from retailers by grouping together multiple facilities thereby increasing the overallload. Once a copy of an electricity bill is received, we provide a full analysis on both the energy rates andthe network or supply cost aspect of the account. Many facilities are paying far too much on both energyrates and network costs.Benefits:• Group price for aged care facilities• The entire process is obligation free• Network tariff analysis• All retailers are included in the tendering process• A full evaluation is provided on all offers made by the retailersFor a no obligation quote and network analysis, please fill out the provided insert and returnwith a recent bill copy (both sides please)For any queries, please contact NES on 1300 797 411 or info@nationalenergysolutions.com.au
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Page 42 and 43: RESEARCHDr Tim Henwood, Universityo
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