How RetireAustralia is responding to COVID-19

Last updated: 31 March 2020.

The health and wellbeing of our residents and staff is our top priority. Here’s what we are doing in response to Coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Prevention

• Reviewed and enhanced our Infection Control policies and procedures.
• Mandatory training for all staff about Infection Control policies and procedures.
• Handwashing training for all staff.
• Village staff are required to sign a health declaration each time they come to work.
• Implemented clear guidelines for staff about not coming to work if they have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, have travelled overseas or have any symptoms of Coronavirus or the flu.
• Arranged for all Support Office staff to work from home.
• Increased education, reminders and promotional materials for residents, staff, visitors and suppliers about hand washing, cough etiquette and staying home if you are sick.
• Communications and visible signage to self-assess before entering our communities
• Increased handwashing stations in communal areas in villages.
• Suspended non-essential staff travel.
• Regular staff and resident communication specifically about COVID-19.
• Free flu vaccinations for staff.

Preparing to care for our residents if they become unwell with COVID-19

• Scenario planning to prepare for caring for residents, containing any infection and looking after the wellbeing of people during self-isolation.
• Contingency planning to maintain essential services and supplies.
• Village outbreak kits including PPE and other essential items.

Our emergency response team is closely monitoring the situation and proactively responding to developments.

Please get in touch with your village manager if you have any questions, or email us here.

Updated: 26 March 2020.

We need your help to protect the health and wellbeing of our residents, many of whom will be vulnerable to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

We have introduced new measures in line with Government announcements. This decision has not been taken lightly, but we feel it is the right course of action right now. These measures will be reviewed fortnightly.

All visitors

• We ask that non-essential visits are put on hold.
• We discourage children under 16 from visiting.
• Residents empowered to screen visitors by asking:
  • Have you returned from overseas in the last 14 days?
  • Have you been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days?
  • Do you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19 – fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath?
  • Do you have any other signs of illness?

Visiting residents in care apartments

• Visiting hours between 10am and 3pm Monday to Friday, or by arrangement with the Village Manager.
• All visits from children under 16 are put on hold.
• Only care apartment residents may use dining rooms.
• All visitors to sign-in and provide details of their health status.

Please do not visit if:

• You have returned from overseas in the last 14 days.
• You have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
• You have any COVID-19 symptoms – a fever, a cough, sore throat, tiredness or shortness of breath.
• You have any signs of illness.

When you visit, please:

• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Avoid shaking hands or kissing.
• Maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from others.

Thank you for helping us keep our communities safe and healthy.

Updated: 31 March 2020

We have introduced a range of measures in our communities in line with government restrictions to guard against the spread of Coronavirus.

These decisions have not been taken lightly. We understand this will be frustrating and disappointing because residents get so much enjoyment from the extensive social opportunities in our communities. We think this is the best course of action right now.

These measures will be reviewed every fortnight or more frequently if there are further Government annoucements.

Our priority is to keep our residents and staff safe and healthy

The measures include:

• All group activities, sport, lifestyle and community events and non-essential organised outings, are put on hold.
• All social-sports facilities including swimming pools, tennis courts, bowling greens and croquet lawns in our villages are temporarily and completely closed
• Access to libraries is suspended.
• Access to community centres is for one person/ couple at a time and by appointment only – please call Reception.
• Access to community centres for children under 16 is suspended.
• Access to hair dressing salons is limited to one person for every 4 square metres.
• We recommend that you reduce the chance of spreading the virus by:
  • Staying in your home or apartment as much as possible.
  • Limitings visits and outings to what is essential:
    • Personal/ home care
    • Food, groceries, medication and essential supplies
    • Compassionate reasons
  • Keeping interactions with others to what is sensible and necessary. Limit group sizes to no more than two and maintain a distance of least 1.5 metres between eachother.

Thank you all for your cooperation as we take extra precautions to keep our communities safe and healthy.

If you have any questions please call your Village Manager.

Updated: 26 March 2020

Any residents returning from overseas are now required to self-isolate for 14 days. Residents travelling inter-state to Queensland and South Australia are also required to self-isolate for 14-days. These measures have been put in place by state and federal governments to slow the spread of the Coronavirus.

If any of our residents have been affected by these new restrictions, we would like to hear from you. Please contact your Village Manager so they can make arrangements for your return.

What does self-isolation mean?
For residents, self-isolation means not taking part in any village events, staying in your home and not visiting your neighbours.

How to self-isolate?
You should familiarize yourself with the Australian Government guidance on what self-isolation means: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-isolation-guidance.

If you are planning to use public transport to get from the airport to the village, please take note of specific guidance on this: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-drivers-and-passengers-using-public-transport

Last updated: 31 March

To help protect our communities, we are no longer able to accommodate walk-in enquiries, village tours or face-to-face appointments.

We are now welcoming appointments by phone and offering virtual viewings of our villas, units or apartments.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our community, simply call 1300 687 738 or fill out an enquiry form and one of our team members will get in touch.

Last updated: 20 March

The situation concerning coronavirus is rapidly changing. We’re paying close attention and being responsive to additional measures we need to introduce to keep our residents and our communities safe and healthy.

RetireAustralia contractors and suppliers

Effective Friday 18 March, each day you attend a village, you will be required to:

• Contact Village Reception by phone, before you begin any work or visit any residents
• Sign a health declaration

It is important that you do not enter  if:

• You have been overseas in the last 14 days
• You have been in contact with anyone with COVID-19
• You have any of the COVID-19 symptoms – fever, cough, shortness of breath or a sore throat
• You have any signs of illness

When in our villages, please:

• Exercise the principles of social distancing, including maintaining a distance of 1.5 metres from residents and staff wherever possible.
• Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Avoid shaking hands or kissing.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping everyone safe.

Last updated: 12 March 2020.

If a confirmed case of COVID-19 were to occur in a village, we would continue to act in full compliance with the Australian Government, local and state health authorities.

We have infection control procedures and contingency plans in place. These include:

• Anyone with COVID-19 will be isolated and transferred to hospital if necessary.
  • Care apartment residents will be isolated in their rooms, with infection control measures in place.
  • We will ask independent living residents to self-isolate in their homes and will support them in any way we can.
• Anyone the infected person has been in contact with will be isolated and cared for.
• We will arrange for family members to keep in touch with loved ones.

Please get in touch with your village manager if you have any questions.

Last updated: 12 March 2020.

We’ve postponed our village open days.

We are not aware of anyone working or living in our villages who has been affected by COVID-19 so far. But, given that older Australians and people with existing health conditions are at higher risk of serious infection from COVID-19 we’re acting with caution.

Individuals are still welcome in our villages, we’re just limiting larger group gatherings.

If you’d like a personal tour, please call us on 1300 687 738 or email us here.

For all media enquiries related to COVID-19, please contact Brooke Chapman on 0429 903 015 or email Brooke.Chapman@retireaustralia.com.au.

For all other media enquiries, please contact Pitch Public Relations:

Phone: (07) 3398 8660
Mobile: 0412 858 713
Email: stephen@pitchpr.com.au

Last updated: 12 March 2020.

• Australian Department of Health – https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert

• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Smart Traveller) –  https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

• The National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
  Operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For translating/ interpreting services, call 131 450.

• NSW Dept. of Health 1300 066 055
  https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

• Qld Dept. of Health 13 432 584
  https://www.health.qld.gov.au/news-events/news/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-sars-queensland-australia-how-to-understand-protect-prevent-spread-symptoms-treatment

• SA Dept. of Health 1300 232 272
  https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/health+topics/health+topics+a+-+z/novel+coronavirus