Explore common issues in aged care facilities and retirement villages. Stay updated on significant sector developments, such as the standardisation of retirement village contracts, evolving financial arrangements, and the introduction of independent dispute resolution mechanisms for aged care residents. Understanding the legal intricacies of aged care complaints, and ensure you are well-informed about vital employment law updates for managing the commercial aspects of the aged care sector. 

Presenters

Ms. Carolyn Cooper, Aged Care Commissioner, Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
from linkedin: Carolyn Cooper is an executive leader with extensive experience across executive management, aged care, rehabilitation and orthopaedics in both Australia and New Zealand. She has experience in key roles in district boards, and working as part of the public health system, in both Australia and New Zealand. Carolyn is regarded as an innovative leader with excellent relationship skills. She thrives on achieving results that are sustainable and delivered in a caring team environment. She is passionate about driving innovation and collaboration to achieve a great quality of care and quality of life for all older people.


Mr. John Collyns, Executive Director, Retirement Villages of New Zealand
John Collyns was appointed Executive Director of the Retirement Villages Association (NZ) Inc (RVA) in October 2007. The RVA represents the interests of retirement village owners, developers and managers around New Zealand. John is responsible for setting the Association’s strategy and policy direction, as well as developing relationships with members, key stakeholders, central and local government agencies, and the media. Key stakeholders include the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment, the Retirement Commissioner, the Financial Markets Authority, the Office for Senior Citizens, District Health Boards, Business NZ, statutory supervisors, and consumer advocacy groups such as Age Concern and Grey Power, amongst others. Prior to this appointment John was the Executive Director of the Bus and Coach Association (NZ) Incorporated, a position he had held since September 1994. John was a founding director of the Road Transport and Logistics Industry Training Organisation and he is a Fellow of the Australasian Society of Association Executives. He has a BA from Victoria University in Wellington.


Lucy Gallagher, Solicitor, Anderson Lloyd
Lucy graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours (First Class) at the end of 2022 and was admitted to the Bar in December 2023. She initially joined Anderson Lloyd's employment law team as a summer clerk in 2020 and has since become a permanent member of the team, where she assists with a wide range of employment issues. Lucy prepares and presents at both internal and external seminars and has assisted in advising various clients, including public sector employers, employers in the aged care sector, organisations undergoing investigations and prosecutions by WorkSafe, and employers in need of assistance with disciplinary processes and negotiated exits.


Ms. Ashley-Jayne Lodge, Partner, Anderson Lloyd
Ashley-Jayne (AJ) advises clients in all aspects of employment law working with them to provide practical, pragmatic solutions to often complex employment issues. AJ can assist employers, employees, and HR professionals with all manner of employment advice, including day to day management of employees, restructures and redundancies, employee claims, advising on and providing representation in human rights matters, health and safety, and employment agreements and policies. AJ represents clients at mediations, in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, and privacy, human rights and disciplinary jurisdictions as well. AJ is an experienced investigator, having conducted workplace investigations, reviews, and other independent investigations in both the public and private sector. AJ is a certified Association of Workplace Investigators member and Certificate Holder (AWI-CH).


Ms. Rose Clements, Partner, Anthony Harper
Rose specialises in retirement village and aged care law. She acts for operators and statutory supervisors in all areas of retirement village law, including compliance documentation, finance and security-sharing arrangements, and dispute resolution. Her clients range from large corporates to smaller not-for-profits. She began her career in New Zealand at a specialist retirement village law firm and spent the first few years of her career transitioning villages from the old Securities Act regime to the (then) new compliance regime under the Retirement Villages Act 2003. Rose then spent over 10 years in the corporate team at a leading offshore law firm in London and the Channel Islands before returning to New Zealand in 2022. Clients appreciate Rose’s technical legal ability, which is combined with a practical and commercial approach to transactions.