Twelve villages, one room: NLRVA members gather to collaborate on the future of retirement living
On 27 and 28 August 2026, the National Lutheran Retirement Village Alliance (NLRVA) brought its members together for its annual meeting, with 12 of our 13 member organisations represented. That level of attendance says a lot about how much value our network places on gathering in person, learning from one another, and strengthening collaboration across Lutheran retirement villages nationally.
This year’s agenda wasn’t built from the top down. Members were consulted by phone and survey beforehand, and a clear theme emerged: everyone wanted a voice on the program. So a standardised presentation template was circulated in advance, giving every organisation the chance to share their own operations, priorities, and challenges, and to spot common ground for future collaboration.
The two days covered a lot of ground. Here are some of the highlights.
A new way to address homelessness risk
The SA Office for Ageing Well introduced ‘It Takes a Village’, a pilot exploring how underused retirement village stock, particularly older bedsits and serviced apartments, could offer supportive housing for women over 55 at risk of homelessness. This group is often invisible in the homelessness system: not sleeping rough, but priced out of the rental market and without the super or income to live independently. Faith-based operators were identified as well-placed to deliver this kind of model, and the service framework is already drafted and ready to work through with any interested operator.
Learning from New Zealand
Mark Prosser (Ageing Australia) shared findings from a recent NZ study tour. The standout observation: three-quarters of NZ villages co-locate care suites with retirement living, rather than building standalone aged care. Pricing structures, buyback regulations, and even a village-run general store model gave our members plenty to think about for their own developments.
Where the sector is heading
Daniel Gannon (Property Council) painted a picture of a sector in transformation. Villages are increasingly designed for multiple generations of residents, built vertically to stay close to established neighbourhoods, and expected to offer amenities once considered optional: gyms, cinemas, allied health on site. The core message was that social connection is the real value proposition of a retirement community, and demand is only growing: the over-75 population is set to nearly double within 15 years, and not-for-profit operators are expected to carry much of that load.
Funding, finance and governance
LLL updated members on its transition to a religious charitable development fund, new products supporting congregations and villages alike, and its Asset Stewardship work helping congregations make better use of ageing property. Stewart Brown shared sector benchmarking data highlighting a growing funding gap in retirement living care and Support at Home viability pressures across the industry. Brett Hausler also updated the group on the LCA’s governance review process ahead of the 2027 General Synod, including the open question of formal sector representation for aged care and community services.
Practical sessions on the ground
Members also worked through hands-on topics including preventative asset management, principal-controlled insurance programs, superannuation compliance, and the realities of running Support at Home packages within a village setting, comparing notes on staffing models, margins, and common pitfalls.
The real value: each other
As always, the biggest takeaway from these two days wasn’t any single session – it was the value of the room itself. Growth comes as much from shared mistakes as shared successes, and this gathering gave our members a structured way to learn from how other organisations operate, all working toward the same goal: resident wellbeing.
A big thank you to everyone who travelled to be part of this, and to all the presenters who gave their time and expertise so generously.
