Question 1

Who is St.John's Retirement Village?

Accepted Answer

St. John’s Retirement Village is a registered Business Name of St John’s Retirement Centre, a Company incorporated in the State of Victoria and limited by Guarantee. The Company owns and manages St. John's Retirement Village situated at 45 Park Lane, Somerville which comprises Independent Living Units, Serviced Apartments and other facilities for the accommodation and care of retired persons (as defined in the Retirement Villages Act 1986 (as amended)).

Question 2

Who is 'The Board'?

Accepted Answer

Our Board of Directors is:

David Renouf - Chairman of Directors
Byron Groves - Deputy Chairman of Directors
Ben Buchanan - Director
Alan Clarke - Director
Anne Cumming - Director
Graeme Drummond – Director/CEO
Mary Schneider - Director /Company Secretary

Question 3

What is the relationship of St.John's Retirement Village with St. John's Presbyterian Church Somerville?

Accepted Answer

Although the Village commenced as an outreach of St. John’s Presbyterian Church and has maintained a close relationship with the local Church over the years, there is no formal link between the two. Whilst located adjacent to the Church, St. John’s Retirement Centre which owns and operates the Village is an independent entity.

Question 4

Who is eligible to apply for residency?

Accepted Answer

Any retired person (as defined in the Retirement Villages Act 1986 (as amended)) is entitled to apply for residency in the Village. Each applicant is assessed for suitability on the basis of age, state of health, and ability to meet the financial requirement of residency. The average age of current Village residents is mid-to-late 70s.

Question 5

Can my disabled child come to live with me at St John’s Retirement Village?

Accepted Answer

The Village does not provide care and accommodation for disabled children. Residents must be retired (as defined in the Retirement Villages Act 1986), and able to live independently.

Question 6

Do I own my 'own' unit?

Accepted Answer

No. An incoming resident is required to pay a capital sum on entering the Village and on departure is entitled to receive a portion of that sum back. It is important for prospective residents to be aware that they do not "own" the unit. They do not have a separate title which can be sold, transferred or bequeathed. A resident acquires the right to occupy the unit for the remainder of their life or until their Residence Contracts terminated. At that time the amount of refund due will be calculated according to the terms of the Contract. Ownership of the unit remains at all times with the Company.

Question 7

If my partner dies, will I have to leave or will I incur any additional costs?"

Accepted Answer

No, the service fees apply on a per unit basis, not an individual basis. Your Contract would continue and the refund entitlement would be calculated upon your departure.

Question 8

How much refund do I receive?

Accepted Answer

Our standard Contract provides that the occupier of an Independent Living Unit will receive a refund of their in-going capital sum less a deduction for each year of occupancy to a maximum of 30% over a period of 5 years.

Question 9

When do I receive my refund?

Accepted Answer

All refunds are paid in accordance with the Retirement Villages Act 1986 (as amended), which provides for a refund to be paid within 6 months after the unit is vacated.

Question 10

What guarantee do I have that I will receive my refund when it is due?

Accepted Answer

The Company is contractually bound to pay the refund in accordance with your Contract and a departing resident would be entitled to sue for recovery if the entitlement was not paid. This right is further supported by the Retirement Villages Act 1986 which protects the rights of Residents.

Question 11

Is public transport available?

Accepted Answer

Local buses are available adjacent to entry A on Park Lane. The Somerville railway station is 200 metres along Jones road. Taxis have good coverage across the area.

Question 12

What facilities are available in the Village?

Accepted Answer

Click here to return to our Facilities Page

Question 13

What are the weekly service fees and what do they cover?

Accepted Answer

Service fees are determined in accordance with the provisions of the Retirement Villages Act 1986 (as amended) and in conjunction with the elected Residents' Committee. The fees cover the day to day operation of the Village and include such items as maintenance of units, insurance, lawn mowing, light and power in public areas, the administration of the Village, support services, staff wages, rates & water charges (up to pensioner concession), cleaning and maintenance of common areas, etc. All service fees are payable monthly in advance.

Question 14

How do I arrange home maintenance and who pays for it?

Accepted Answer

Maintenance services are arranged by adding your request to the 'Request for Maintenance Book" in the Library.
 
You are responsible for the maintenance of equipment you bring with you as well as the upkeep of your garden and general tidiness of your unit.  You are also responsible for any damage caused to your unit that is outside of normal wear & tare.  Maintenance of these items can be arranged on a fee for service basis.

Question 15

Will the Village refurbish my unit, replace carpet, drapes and interior painting if I have lived there for a long time?"

Accepted Answer

The Village does not generally replace carpets, drapes and interior painting in occupied units.

Question 16

When are Units Refurbished?

Accepted Answer

The Village refurbishes units after they have been vacated and before thet are reoccupied as per the Residency Contract.

Question 17

Is there a Residents Committee?

Accepted Answer

Yes, elections are held in March/April each year and the elected committee discuss all issues relevant to Residents.

Question 18

Who takes out the garbage bins, collects the mail, cleans my home and maintains the garden around my unit?"

Accepted Answer

You do. Should you have any difficulty with doing these things, we will be happy to provide services on a fee-for-service basis.

Question 19

Can I bring Pets with me?

Accepted Answer

When a Resident moves into an Independent Living Unit, in some cases, an existing pet (one cat or one SMALL dog or other small pets such as birds or fish) may be permitted to live in the Village. This decision is at the discretion of Village Management who will give careful consideration to each individual application.
 
Pets are not permitted in the Serviced Apartments.

Question 20

What type of security is provided at the Village?

Accepted Answer

The Village forms part of our local community and does not employ on-site security guards or night patrols. The general location of the Village, communal lighting, strategically placed surveillance cameras, boundary fences and close proximity of units within the Village are all deterrents to persons wishing to create a nuisance.
 
The Village is staffed 24/7 and residents have emergency buttons in their units plus individual emergency pendants.
 
Residents are encouraged to press their emergecy buttons or call 000 if they have concerns about their security at night.

Question 21

Who maintains non-standard alterations or additions to my unit?

Accepted Answer

The Resident is responsible for the maintenance of any non-standard alterations or additions to their unit.

Question 22

What happens if I can no longer look after myself?

Accepted Answer

We can assist you to find a range of external community services that can come to your home to meet your individual requirements.

Question 23

What other medical and health services are offered by the Village?

Accepted Answer

Medical and Health Services are availiable in the Village.
The Village has medical rooms that are used by visiting General Practitioners and other health professionals in areas such as hearing, optometry, podiatry, massage and physiotherapy.
Some services are subsidised by the Government upon individual assessment. Fees and charges apply for Home and Community Care Services.

Question 24

Are there any rules or policies about living in the Village that I need to know about?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All Residents are required to abide by the Village Policies. These are subject to review by the Board and management and compliance with them form a condition of your Residence Contract. You should make yourself familiar with the policies, copies of which are available through the administration office.
 
Policies cover such things as Visitors, Pets, Covid-19 Regulations, Complaints & Disputes

Question 25

Are there carports, garages and caravan storage facilities available?"

Accepted Answer

For those units which do not have attached garages, a number of carports and lock-up garages are available for an additional fee.
 
These are allocated to Residents who request them, depending on availibility.
 
Residents are requested to relinquish their carport or garage when they cease to own a vehicle.
 
Limited caravan storage is available for mid-sized caravans. Caravans are not permitted to be stored on the grounds surrounding your unit.

St. John's Retirement Village, Somerville

Frequently Asked Questions