Sep-Oct 2016 Issue | Business View Oceania

89 who get into a strife. We’ve got a range of discounts and benefits supplied by the associate members. We also have seminars, regular forums, and an an- nual conference that also provides several networking opportunities”, says John. Educating and training all personnel As the most powerful voice of the re- tirement village sector, the RVA does not rest on its laurels. Starting with the basics, it provides training in a varie- ty of levels. For instance, any person that interacts with the residents of a retirement village community receives basic training to understand the com- plaints management system, to under- stand and respect the privacy of the residents, the structure, layout, and performance of the villag- es, and a lot more. Educ a t i ng people about the retire- ment village industry is hugely impor- tant for the RVA. A news- letter exclu- sive to members of the association provides regular updates and informa- tion about the sector. Online seminars, which represent the association’s in- volvement in new technologies, offer additional opportunities for education. Regularly-held forums inform interest- ed parties in matters of finance, secu- rity, policy, and more. The annual con- ference is also an extremely important event as it includes ample opportuni- ties for networking as well as exchang- ing vital pieces of information between members and associate partners. Unique offerings for unique residents Something important to note here every village is different. The RVA is keen to explain that to any potential resident and in fact encourages them to visit a number of different locations in order to find one that’s best suited to their own needs. As John says, demand currently exceeds supply so the indus- try is not as competitive as it might be in the future. As it current- ly stands, any older person interested in moving into a retirement c ommun i t y has a wide range of op- tions availa- ble. The asso- ciation’s work has also en- sured that anyone interested in retire- ment villages can also rest easy know- ing that they will have access to every amenity and service that they would require.