RetireAustralia recognised with four wins at the 2026 National Retirement Living Awards
RetireAustralia has been recognised at the 2026 National Retirement Living Awards, taking home four national awards and celebrating six finalists across the organisation.
The awards honour excellence across the retirement living sector, showcasing the people, communities and ideas shaping the future of retirement living in Australia.
Acting CEO Simon Fawssett said the recognition reflects the dedication of teams across RetireAustralia’s villages and support offices.
“Being recognised at a national level is something we’re all proud of,” Simon said.
“These awards reflect the commitment our people bring every day to supporting residents to live independently, as long as possible in their own homes.”
“They also highlight what’s possible when teams work together with a clear focus on residents and delivering great outcomes.”
Celebrating our award winners
The Green wins Best Community Development
The Green Tarragindi Retirement Village received the One Fell Swoop Award for Best Community Development, recognising its thoughtful design and strong sense of community.
The Green redefines retirement living with 92 independent apartments set among lush gardens and vibrant shared spaces that foster connection, wellbeing and intergenerational engagement. Its age-friendly design, innovative features and tailored support empower residents to live independently and confidently.
Already recognised with the Prospecta Utilities Award for Sustainability at the 2025 National Retirement Living Awards, The Green continues to set a benchmark for community-focused design.
Accepting the award, Chief Development and Acquisitions Officer Robert McDonald acknowledged the collaboration behind the project.
“It is a great honour to receive this award on behalf of RetireAustralia, with many people involved over a long period of time across the business, consultant team and builder,” Robert said.
“It’s a terrific outcome for the community and we are very proud of it.”
The Care Hub recognised for innovation
The Verge Retirement Village’s Care Hub received the Legata Projects Award for Innovation, recognising a model that enables residents to access higher levels of care while remaining in the community they know and love.
The Care Hub is redefining ageing in place, offering higher-acuity, nurse-led support in a homelike environment. With 24/7 personalised care, wellbeing programs and a strong focus on choice and independence, it allows residents to remain connected to their community while receiving the support they need.
Simon said the award reflects ongoing efforts to innovate across the retirement living journey.
“The Care Hub is a wonderful encouragement to our team who have been working hard to care for our residents and support them through to the end of life,” he said.
“It’s also a great acknowledgement of the people across our organisation who’ve made the Care Hub successful.”
Sustainability recognised at The Verge
The Verge at Burleigh G.C. Retirement Village also received national recognition, winning the DSL Law Award for Sustainability.
The village is a thriving vertical community where sustainable, future-focused design meets person-centred living in a sub-tropical setting. Featuring 168 independent living apartments and a 10-suite Care Hub, it combines eco-efficient design, smart operations and strong resident satisfaction.
Accepting the award, Robert McDonald said the recognition reflects both innovation and teamwork.
“It is a terrific honour to win and to pioneer new technology in the sector that will benefit residents in the long run,” he said.
“It is also a great example of collaboration across our consultant team and the broader RetireAustralia team to bring it to life.”
Tom Sullivan named Future Leader of the Year
Project Manager Tom Sullivan was named the 4EVA Energy Future Leader of the Year (Corporate Leadership).
Tom is a hands-on project leader who has stepped up in the face of major challenges. From reviving a stalled construction project following a builder collapse to leading a complex fire safety upgrade with minimal disruption to residents, he has demonstrated calm leadership, practical problem-solving and a strong focus on people.
He has built trust with subcontractors, kept residents informed and driven complex projects forward with care and integrity, earning a reputation as a reliable, future-focused leader within RetireAustralia.
Accepting the award, Tom acknowledged the team around him.
“This recognition is really for the team. We all put in the hard work and I’m just the beneficiary here,” he said.
“It’s a nice reward for the development team and RetireAustralia as a whole.”
Recognising our national finalists
In addition to the four award wins, RetireAustralia celebrated six national finalists across a range of categories, showcasing the depth of talent across the organisation.
Among them were Gabrielle Dekort, who was recognised as a finalist for Future Leader of the Year (Community Leadership), and Tarmar Christensen, who was named QLD Village Manager of the Year and finalist for Village Manager of the Year.
A reflection of our people and communities
For Simon Fawssett, the night’s success was about more than awards.
“These awards recognise excellence across our sector, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see our people and communities acknowledged on that stage,” he said.
“I couldn’t be prouder of how our people represented RetireAustralia.”
The recognition highlights the impact of RetireAustralia’s teams and communities, and the role they play in shaping positive, independent and connected retirement living experiences now and into the future.