Retirement Living CRIS process delayed

Last week, Consumer Protection wrote to the Property Council and confirmed that the CRIS paper process would be delayed in light of COVID-19. This followed calls from the Property Council for the process to be delayed and direct engagement with Consumer Protection on this matter. It is not yet known when the next paper, initially due for release within weeks, will be released.

We are continuing to hold weekly teleconferences with retirement living operators across WA to understand their needs and how they are responding to COVID-19. These teleconferences have been well received are in addition to weekly teleconferences of the Retirement Living Council at a national level.

A number of members have indicated that Consumer Protection had commenced Proactive Compliance Reviews in recent weeks, despite retirement villages turning much of their focus to the COVID-19 situation. These reviews require operators to provide a range of information and answer questionnaires to evaluate compliance with the various regulations. These reviews have been paused after the issue was raised with Consumer Protection and are not expected to recommence until after the COVID-19 outbreak has been contained.

The Retirement Living Council has been included on the Department of Health’s stakeholder group for community preparedness and response to COVID-19. This came after engagement between the Retirement Living Council and the Health Minister on health specific issues affecting the retirement living sector, with the elevated risk COVID-19 poses to retirement villages and their residents.

A set of resources has been developed by the Retirement Living Council to help operators respond to COVID-19. They are accessible through this dropbox.