VicAssist Retirement Villages can support you with managing disputes in your retirement village community.
We provide expert conciliators who can help you come to a fair and reasonable agreement with the other party.
Eligibility for conciliation
You can apply for help with a retirement village dispute if:
- you are a current resident, operator, or proprietor of a retirement village OR you are a former resident and it is no later than 6 months after you received all/or part of your exit entitlement
- you are willing to provide information we need for conciliation
- you have not already had conciliation for this dispute
- you or another party has made reasonable attempts to resolve the dispute
- you are acting in good faith in participating in the process
- it is reasonably likely that the dispute can be resolved through conciliation.
Exclusions
Your dispute is not eligible for conciliation via the scheme if it:
- is outside the definition of a 'village dispute'
- is a vexatious, frivolous, unsubstantial or bad faith application
- has already had conciliation.
Conciliation process
1. Get in touch
Complete our online form to tell us about the dispute or call 1300 528 994.
2. Speak with a conciliator
We will provide a conciliator you can talk to about the dispute and how you’ve tried to resolve it. From here, our conciliator will work with you to determine whether conciliation is the best option.
3. Meet to discuss options
If conciliation is the agreed way forward, we’ll arrange a time for all parties to meet, work towards a practical agreement, and outline the next steps.
Please note, if an agreement can’t be reached, our conciliator will outline alternative options. This may include progressing the matter with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal or seeking independent legal advice.
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