Overview
Aged care, disability and retirement living operates under complex funding models and close regulatory oversight, with governance, capital and the quality of care to residents and clients all under scrutiny. Decisions in this sector carry consequences for the people who depend on these services as much as for the organisations that provide them.
Thomsons advises residential and home care providers, retirement village operators, disability service providers, not-for-profits, faith-based organisations and private investors on regulatory matters, major development programs and portfolio transactions across multiple jurisdictions.
Thomsons is a recognised leader in the industry, named as the 2027 "Law Firm of the Year" and ranked Tier 1 nationally for Retirement Villages and Senior Living Law by Best Law Firms.
Areas of expertise
Our experience
More than 140 aged care providers
Our team worked with providers to deliver innovative and intuitive tools to support the transition to the new Aged Care Act in November 2025, including:
- The aged care transition tool, which identified all of the obligations in the new Act and what was required to meet them, with clients being able to apply the tool in their environment to track their progress
- Customised training for aged care boards about the reforms and their new responsibilities
- More than 60 template policies and agreements
- Tailored support across compliance queries
- Developing in partnership with clients their particular approach to the new Financial and Prudential Standards, including their FPMS, LMS and IMS
Opal Healthcare
Advised Opal HealthCare on its $400+ million acquisition of Blue Cross Group (31 aged care homes) and more than 18 other transactions.
Hyegrove Willoughby Development
Advising on the $400 million integrated development of the independent living, high care village suites and broader wellness precinct, Hyegrove Willoughby.
More than 20 aged care providers
Advising providers on care minutes compliance including negotiating several enforceable undertakings with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Estia Health
Advised Estia Health on the acquisition of three residential care homes from Calvary Health Care ($92 million), 7 residential care homes across NSW and Vic from the Aurrum Group ($253 million); and the Vacenti Group QLD portfolio of seven residential care homes and associated assets ($360million).
More than 20 aged care providers
Advised on restructure and governance arrangements to comply with changes to the Aged Care Act including, Ozcare, Bupa, St Vincent's Care Services, Arcare, RockPool Aged Care Group, the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Alwyndor Aged Care, CatholicCare Central Qld Ltd.