Plan Your Care, Protect Your Legacy

WHAT WE COVER IN THE SEMINAR

Understanding the New Aged Care Reforms (effective 1 July 2025):

The sector has always been complex, but on 1 July 2025, the new Aged Care Act will take effect, bringing critical funding and regulatory reform to support a high-quality and sustainable aged care sector. In this session, we explore:

• The key changes in aged care legislation and what they mean for you or your loved ones
• Updated funding models across home care, and residential care

Estate Planning

Estate planning is more than just writing a will—it’s about making informed decisions to protect your wishes, support your loved ones, and reduce the risk of disputes later on.

This session will cover:

• Wills and Powers of Attorney, enduring appointments of guardian – with a focus on challenging wills.

Retirement Living:

Key insights from the RVRA’s Have Your Say survey of 4,000+ retirement village residents across Australia

Hosted by Farrar Gesini Dunn and Phillips Wealth Partners, this session will provide practical advice and strategies to help you stay financially and legally prepared as you age.

Broaden your local network

Representatives from various local industries, including retirement living, care providers, senior peak bodies, end-of-life services, and social support, will be present at the meeting. We offer a relaxed setting where you can meet these individuals face to face and keep them as part of your network if or when needed.

We encourage attendees to bring any questions they may have regarding estate planning or retirement relocation.

For further details or to RSVP, please contact Farrar Gesini Dunn or Phillips Wealth Partners.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

People who are: preparing for retirement, in retirement and are concerned about their care options for themselves or loved ones.

NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SEMINAR?

Call 1300 10 22 33 or

Email: info@phillipswp.com.au

BACKGROUND

Aged Care Reforms

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reveals a striking reality: a woman aged 65 today has a 59% chance of requiring aged care at some point in her life. For a man of the same age, the likelihood is 43%. These numbers highlight a simple but often overlooked truth—most of us will need some form of care as we grow older.

Despite this, very few people take active steps to prepare. Whether due to uncertainty, discomfort with the topic, or the belief that it’s “too early,” many Australians find themselves—or their families—making rushed, high-stakes decisions during moments of crisis.

Proactive planning can ease that burden. By understanding your options and putting the right financial, legal and care arrangements in place, you can maintain control over your future, reduce stress for loved ones, and ensure that your preferences are respected.

This seminar is designed to help you start that conversation—with expert guidance on aged care reforms, retirement living, and estate planning to support your journey through later life with clarity and confidence.

Estate Planning

You are generally entitled to divide your estate as you see fit. However, if there is someone who believes they were not adequately provided for from your estate, that person (if eligible) can make an application to be paid a share (or an increased share) of your estate.

The laws that give the Court these powers are known as family provision and exist in every Australian state and territory under different names and forms. Generally speaking the people who are allowed to make those applications are spouses, children and those who were financially dependent upon you at your death.

What is 'adequate' depends on that person's financial circumstances, the financial circumstances of your beneficiaries or other claimants, the nature of the relationship and what is in the Estate.

Wills and Estate Lawyers Australia believe that on average, 74% of Family Provision Claims in Australia are successful. Due to blended families, complexity of finances and increased financial pressure, family provision claims are on the rise.

There is no way of ‘contracting out’ of family provision claims. However, a solicitor who specialises in Wills and Estates can advise you as to strategies to reduce the possibility of a claim transpiring or from being successful.

Join us for an essential seminar designed for people in Coffs Harbour navigate two critical areas: the upcoming aged care fee reforms and the importance of estate planning.

Retirement Living: Insights to Help You Make Informed Choices

Retirement villages continue to offer a popular lifestyle choice for older Australians, combining independence with access to community, security, and support. To better understand the experiences of residents, the Retirement Village Residents Association conducted its nationwide Have Your Say survey, gathering insights from over 4,000 people living in villages across all Australian states and territories.

The survey findings confirm the many benefits of village living. Residents reported enhanced quality of life, with a strong sense of community, improved personal security, and reduced responsibilities for home maintenance. Access to support services and organised social activities also contributed to greater social connection and wellbeing.

However, the research also highlighted areas where greater clarity is needed—particularly around the financial and legal aspects of village contracts. Many respondents indicated confusion around exit fees, capital gains entitlements, and other financial commitments, signalling the importance of informed decision-making.

This seminar will unpack these findings and provide practical guidance on what to consider when exploring retirement living options. Attendees will gain clarity on key financial terms, learn how to assess village contracts, and understand what to look for when planning their next chapter.

THE SPEAKERS

Gillian Hunter Director – Estate and Family Lawyer, Farrar Gesini Dunn

Gillian heads up our Coffs Harbour office, from where practices across the country in Estate Law (including Estate Planning, Estate Administration, Contested Estates and Elder Law) and Family Law.

Gillian brings empathy to her practice and is focused on preserving relations in the resolution of disputes, where possible.

Revered by the legal fraternity, Gillian is a former member of the Elder Law and Succession Committee for the ACT law society, where she contributed to the development of legislation and education to protect elderly and vulnerable members of the community.

Gillian is a self-confessed Wills and Estates tragic who finds satisfaction in harnessing her acute knowledge of the applicable legislation and case law to procure good outcomes for her clients.

Gil’s mantra is “conversations should be bridges, not battlefields” and she applies this in her dealings with other lawyers, to bring about innovative and prompt resolutions.

Craig Phillips. Principal and Accredited Aged Care Professional™, Phillips Wealth Partners

His dedication to the sector was recently recognised as the Aged Care Specialist Award 2023 and Program of the Year finalist 2023. Craig Phillips and his team are dedicated to helping their clients achieve their life or business goals, with clarity, insight and certainty in a true partnership.

Craig has three decades of experience in the financial services industry, completed all the educational and ethical benchmarks set by the government and is actively involved in the local FPA and SMSF association chapters in the ACT. Craig specialises in preparing financial strategies for retirement living, downsizing, granny flat rights and permanent residential aged care.

He is also the ACT Ambassador for the future2 Foundation, a keen cyclist and age group triathlete.

Anastasios Nicolaidis Estate and Property Lawyer, Farrar Gesini Dunn

Taso has been taking care of the legal needs of individuals for over a decade. His experience includes drafting wills, handling deceased estates, navigating commercial disputes, assisting with property transactions, and civil litigation (estate and general).

When it comes to disputes, he strives to deliver. He delivers advice in a way that ensures clients appreciate the benefits and risks. His calm and thorough approach to litigation makes him a formidable and respected opponent.

Taso strives to resolve court matters in an efficient and cost effective manner.

Roger Pallant. Retirement Village Residents Association (RVRA) Vice President

Roger brings a wealth of experience and insight to his current role at the RVRA. He served for 22 years as an Avionics Engineer in the Royal Australian Air Force before transitioning to civilian life, where he worked as a National HR Manager and later spent 15 years as a consultant in the disability sector. For the past nine years, Roger has been a resident at Palm Lake Resort Ballina, where he has actively contributed to the community as a member of the Resident Committee for four years.

Passionate about advocating for older Australians, Roger authored the Ageing Without Fear report, which explores psychological abuse in retirement villages. His expertise and dedication have made him a sought-after keynote speaker and panel member at both national and state-level retirement village forums.

Luisa Capezio. Aged Care Specialist, Phillips Wealth Partners

Luisa is the co-director at Phillips Wealth Partners and Accredited Aged Care Professional™. She has extensive experience in the healthcare sector across multiple therapeutic areas.

Her role at Phillips Wealth Partners is to ensure individuals and families find the best solution for loved ones who need support to either stay at home or are ready to take the next step into a retirement village, downsizing or residential aged care arrangement. Luisa also chairs a local board focusing on different models of care for people living with dementia.

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#Retirement Planning

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#Aged Care Act 2024

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