Facilities

Facilities at St. James provide residents with everything they need for a self contained community. Though shopping centres, the hospital and specialty shops are close by, there is no need to leave the village to eat, be entertained or mix with friends. Facilities at St. James include:

• Swimming pool and spa
• Hair Salon
• Community recreation area including pool table and darts
• Gym
• Library
• Restaurant
• Lounge area with piano and coffee/tea serving facilities
• Meeting rooms

Frequently Asked Questions

Making your move to a retirement lifestyle is an important decision and more than likely you will have lots of questions. At St. James, we want you to be fully informed and confident about making your move to our community.

Below is a list of questions we frequently hear which we hope will help you with your decision but please don't hesitate to call us if you have others.

We also encourage you to take a look at what other residents have said by visiting the hear from our residents page.

Why should I choose to move into St James Village?

If you are seeking a safe, carefree and convenient retirement lifestyle, St James Retirement Village is the place for you. It is situated in a central location close to major shopping centres, the hospital and community recreational precincts. St James offers residents a range of high quality facilities including a pool with spa, restaurant, hair salon, and library just to name a few. You will have everything you need on your doorstep

What style of units are at St James Village?

St James Village has studio, one, two and three bedroom units designed for active retirees who choose to live independently within the village environment. There is 133 independent living units at St James Village including 20 studio apartments.

What is the difference between a studio apartment and a unit?

The studio apartments are a small apartment in a block of twenty. Services for residents who require some assistance with daily living are provided. Services include two meals per day, cleaning and laundry assistance.

Two meals per day are provided in a communal dining room setting. A small kitchenette is also included in the unit.

What is a Scheme Operator

The Scheme Operator is the owner of the Village. St James Village is owned by the Corporation of the Diocesan Synod of North Queensland.

What role does the manager play at St James Village?

The manager is responsible for the day to day management of the village and to provide service which assists residents to live an independent life in a caring and supportive community.

Is there any on-site care at St James Village?

St James Village is an independent living village for over 55's. There is no formal system of care in place at the village.

What type of village contract would I enter into at St James Village?

St James Village has a Leasehold contract in place.

What is an Exit Fee?

This is a fee that is deducted from the amount you or your estate receives when you leave the village.

Will I receive a capital gain when I leave St James Village?

In the current lease, St James Village does not share the capital gain.

What are weekly fees?

As a resident in St James Village, you will be required to pay fees to the scheme operator in the form of a General Services Charge and a Maintenance Reserve Fund contribution. You may also be required to pay a Personal Services Charge if residing in the studio apartments.

How are costs controlled?

Before increasing the charge for a particular general service, the village operator must consider whether there is a more cost-effective alternative solution. The operator can only provide a new service if the residents agree to it being supplied. This is done by special resolution at a residents' meeting.

Who insures St James Village?

The operator insures the village at full replacement value, including the accommodation units 'leased' by residents.

Who prepares St James Village budgets?

Village budgets are prepared by the operator annually and provided to each resident. They also provide a financial report annually, which is independently audited.

How are the residents represented?

Residents have established a Residents' committee, which liaises with the operator on behalf of residents about the day to day running of the village, and any complaints or proposals raised by the residents.

Who pays for maintaining the village?

The village operator must pay into a 'capital replacement fund' according to a formula developed by an independent quantity surveyor so as to ensure facilities can be replaced when they get beyond their useful age i.e. a swimming pool or road.

The 'maintenance reserve fund' is paid for by the residents out of their weekly fees for the maintenance and repair of the village's capital items.

How do I get the relevant information before 'buying in' to St James Village?

Management will provide you with a Public Information Document. It contains an extensive amount of information, including:

• Cooling off period after you sign the contract.
• Ingoing contribution payable.
• Exit fee payable.
• General Service Charges
• Amounts payable into the Maintenance Reserve Fund.
• Personal Services Charges
• Resident's Rights
• Dispute Resolution Process
• Rights to terminate the contract

Will our lives be more enjoyable at St James Village?

Village residents enjoy many benefits that are not available in a family home. Some of these include:

• The burden of routine home and garden maintenance is eased.
• You have companionship and access to facilities and a variety of activities that you can enjoy with like minded people.
• Within your own private residence you can enjoy as much privacy as you desire and continue to welcome the company of family and friends in your own home.
• The ability to live independently and have the opportunity to be an active part of the resident community.

Can the Scheme Operator terminate my residency?

You need to check the contract, but the major reason for termination is if your village home is no longer suitable for you given your health - which generally means you need to move on to low or high level care for your own welfare.

Generally, the operator can only terminate your residency if you have intentionally injured a person in the village, damaged property or contravened the conditions of your lease.

What is the minimum age to move into St James Village?

The minimum age to move into the village is currently 55.

What happens if my partner passes away?

You can stay in your home, usually as long as you can cope with it and can look after yourself, provided you qualify for occupancy under state laws and the terms of the village contract. It can sometimes be a problem if the village contract was in the name of the deceased resident only. For better protection, the village contract should always be obtained in joint names.

Can I have visitors, such as my grandchildren, stay overnight at my unit?

If you reside in a Studio Apartment, visitors are not permitted due to its size however visitors are welcome in all other units. In case of emergencies and to address security concerns of other residents, management must be informed in writing when you are expecting house guests.

Is there car parking space for visitors?

A limited amount of car parking space has been allocated for visiting friends and family.

May we come and go as we please and leave our unit unattended if we are away on holiday?

Life at St James Village brings security and freedom to retirees who like to travel. You can go on a holiday knowing that your home and garden will be watched and cared for while you are away. We recommend notifying St. James management of any planned absence.

May we rent or sub-let our unit at St James Village?

No, you are not permitted to sub-let or rent your unit. It is comforting for residents to know that all residents are permanent occupants of their units.

Must we be retired or can we still continue to work while residing in St James Village?

The majority of residents at St James are retired but there are a number who continue to work in their professions and trades.

Can I make alterations to my unit?

While you can decorate and furnish the interior of your unit to suit yourself, any alterations or changes to inside or outside the unit must have the approval of management.

Can I bring my pet?

Residents may request to bring an existing small pet. We do not, however, allow the replacement of an existing pet once you are living at St James Village.

How close is St James Village to shopping facilities and other services?

A bus service to local shopping centres and the city passes by the village on a regular basis. A number of shopping centres, medical centres and the hospital are close by and easily accessible.

Why are Retirement Villages so popular?

Retirement villages are communities of people living in common surroundings. Communities that grow and develop on the basis of cooperation and consideration of each other, return value to the members of the community in ways that far exceed the sum of the contribution by individuals.

Villages that thrive are those where the residents recognise their capacity to contribute and involve themselves where they can, for the benefit of everyone in the village. We like to think that at St. James... we're thriving!