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Rebel Wilson reveals strict Pitch Perfect "weight contract"

Rebel Wilson has lifted the lid on the strict rules she had to follow while she was starring in the Pitch Perfect films. The actress spilled the beans on her weight contract while chatting candidly on the Call Her Daddy podcast, revealing that she was contractually obliged to not lose any weight in between movies. “I couldn’t lose a massive amount of weight because I was in the contracts for that movie,” she said. “You can’t lose, I think it’s not more than 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms), or gain more than 10 pounds.” The 42-year-old actor added, “Yeah, you have to kind of stay at the weight. It’s in your contract.” Rebel famously played the role of Fat Amy in the Pitch Perfect trilogy, which conflicted with her plans to "get healthier" in order to improve her fertility before the age of 40. “I went to see a fertility doctor and he was like, ‘You’d have a much better chance with fertility if you were healthier,’” she recalled. “It really hit me hard because I was living a fantastic bigger life.” The situation made Wilson “re-examine” her lifestyle and she “slowly became healthier.” She also shared that she wanted to lose weight so she could diversify the roles she played in her movie career. <div id="indie-campaign-rHsIzpAmAj7xkA4llYlH-2" data-campaign-name="NCA ENTERTAINMENT newsletter" data-campaign-indie="newsletter-signup" data-jira="TSN-268" data-from="1640955600000" data-to="1677502800000"></div> “I was stereotyped in playing that fat funny friend, which is so hard because I love those roles. I love doing the roles. I love those characters,” she said. “But then I did want to do more things but I felt like being the bigger girl you’re just more pigeonholed.” The three Pitch Perfect movies came out between 2012 and 2017, before Rebel started her "year of health" in 2020 and lost more than 30 kilograms. Wilson revealed in 2021 that her team initially didn’t want her to embark on her health journey because they believed it would have a negative impact on her acting career. “I got a lot of pushback from my own team, actually, here in Hollywood. When I said, ‘OK, I’m going to do this year of health. I feel like I’m really gonna physically transform and change my life,’” she told the BBC at the time. “And they were like, ‘Why? Why would you wanna do that?’ Because I was earning millions of dollars being the funny fat girl and being that person.” Image credits: Getty Images

Body

Junior staff are finding better contracts, senior staff are burning out: the arts are losing the war for talent

In 1997, consulting firm McKinsey & Company coined the term “<a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/34512/war-talent">the war for talent</a>” to define increasing labour shortages that had significant potential to impact organisational performance. The war for talent significantly impacted corporations at the time, creating a scarcity mindset and encouraging a wave of employee-focussed initiatives designed to attract and retain staff. For the most part, the arts and cultural sector have been sheltered from the war for talent over past decades. Global growth in creative oriented higher education coupled with the “<a href="https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2016/04/26/book-review-be-creative-making-a-living-in-the-new-culture-industries-by-angela-mcrobbie/">romance of being creative</a>” has led to a steady stream of workers willing to enter the sector on low pay. However, in 2022 things have changed. Faced with labour shortages, arts and cultural organisations increasingly find it challenging to operate. In 2021, it was reported screen productions in Australia were <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-24/high-demand-creates-film-skill-shortage/100479392">being jeopardised</a> due to lack of technical skills. Now, summer festivals are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/07/will-australias-festivals-survive-a-wet-chaotic-expensive-summer">struggling to find</a> frontline workers, including security, stage crew, ticketing and transport. It’s not just entry-level positions that remain empty. After <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/may/11/australias-culture-of-ideas-suffers-when-we-starve-our-creative-institutions-of-funding">a decade</a> of funding cuts and policy neglect, followed by the stresses induced by COVID-19, I am observing arts leaders leaving to find secure, better paid and sustainable work elsewhere. In Australia’s increasingly tight labour market, the arts are finally facing a war for talent. <h2>A culture of burnout</h2> If we consider the role of the “arts manager”, it becomes easy to recognise why arts leaders are abandoning the industry. Arts leaders do not just support the creation of art. They are marketers, customer service specialists, supply chain and logistics experts, grant writers, human resources managers and – increasingly – risk managers. They are trying to bring back audiences post-COVID while juggling a contentious funding landscape that balances the need for revenue with audience, staff and artist <a href="https://overland.org.au/2021/09/the-arts-in-australia-need-to-break-up-with-fossil-fuels/">expectations</a> arts organisations do not partner with corporations that fail to align with organisational values. I am increasingly seeing young people leaving arts jobs for opportunities that recognise their skills and provide secure, better paid work. Art workers are highly valuable in today’s economy where creativity and innovation are seen as <a href="https://australiacouncil.gov.au/news/speeches-and-opinions/creative-skills-in-times-of-crisis-how-the-arts-can-help/">keys to success</a>. This lack of younger workers increases the workloads of senior staff, causing them to be burnt out and leave the sector, too. Staff shortages jeopardise the sector’s ability to get back on its feet after the brutal impact of COVID-19. Those that remain in our arts companies are exhausted, left trying to rebuild programs and audiences with fewer resources. While “<a href="https://theconversation.com/quiet-quitting-why-doing-less-at-work-could-be-good-for-you-and-your-employer-188617">quiet quitting</a>” gets media airtime, others in the sector are asking arts workers to embrace the mantra of “<a href="https://larsenkeys.com.au/2022/09/26/post-covid-or-post-burnout-less-is-necessary/">less is necessary</a>”. Individuals need to take action to address their wellbeing. Still, it is also necessary to consider the systems and structures that underpin our arts organisations and how they impact workers. <h2>Structural issues</h2> One way to address the war for talent is to increase the labour supply. Higher education providers who develop creative talent are lobbying for more resources to expand programs and are pushing for changes to the Job Ready graduate scheme that <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-inequity-of-job-ready-graduates-for-students-must-be-brought-to-a-quick-end-heres-how-183808">imposes higher costs</a> on arts and humanities graduates. The latest <a href="https://www.aare.edu.au/blog/?p=14754">Graduate Outcome Survey</a> shows that the employment outcomes of creative arts and arts and humanities graduates have increased over 20% since 2019. The high rates of graduate employability aligns with Australia’s historically low unemployment rate, but also demonstrates the value creative skills now hold in the broader economy. What these positive statistics do not tell us, however, is the working conditions of those employed. The arts are the original gig economy. Of the over 80% of arts and humanities graduates employed six months after graduation, how many earn a living wage? How many work in the arts? How many recent creative arts graduates are juggling multiple short-term contracts simultaneously to build skills, grow networks and cope with cost of living increases? As Australia’s labour market tightens, arts workers are realising they can take their skills to better paid jobs with secure contracts, in fields such as health, technology and management consulting. Unless arts organisations respond by providing similar security and career paths, the departure of talented workers will only continue. This loss of staff will not only impact the ability of organisations to operate today, but will also influence the make-up of arts organisations in the future. When only those who can afford to work under precarious conditions remain, the ability of the sector to attract and retain leaders from diverse communities <a href="https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/how-do-we-stop-losing-artists-from-the-sector-2578669/">decreases</a>. <h2>Decent work</h2> Arts leaders eagerly await the launch of a new <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-new-national-cultural-policy-is-an-opportunity-for-a-radical-rethinking-of-the-importance-of-culture-in-australia-188720">National Cultural Policy</a>, hoping for significant change in how the arts are valued. Yet arts organisations need to also get their own house in order. Sustainable arts careers mean <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-crisis-of-a-career-in-culture-why-sustaining-a-livelihood-in-the-arts-is-so-hard-171732">decent work</a>. This means structural changes in how arts workers are employed, a shift away from the reliance on volunteers and <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/why-is-a-major-sydney-arts-festival-working-with-google-to-offer-an-unpaid-internship-20220516-p5als1.html">incorrect appointment of unpaid interns</a>, low-wage casual or fixed-term roles to more secure and fairly paid employment. Many in the sector are championing change. The National Association for the Visual Arts is campaigning to <a href="https://visualarts.net.au/news-opinion/2022/recognise-artists-workers/">recognise artists as workers</a>, highlighting the need for an award to support this group that often falls under the industrial relations radar. The music sector has made similar calls for minimum wages for artists, <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/paying-musicians-a-minimum-wage-would-kill-live-music-tote-owner-20220923-p5bkgw.html">yet face critics</a>. The pandemic showed us how important the arts are to our lives. For the arts to continue to play a vital role in our national identity and represent our diverse communities, the sector must be funded appropriately. It is also essential organisations create safe, secure and viable jobs for arts workers. If the industry can only exist by systematically exploiting workers, then the war for talent will be lost. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/junior-staff-are-finding-better-contracts-senior-staff-are-burning-out-the-arts-are-losing-the-war-for-talent-194174" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Art

Japanese encephalitis virus contracted in Victoria claims its first victim

Victorians are being warned to protect themselves from mosquito bites after Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/body/fresh-warnings-after-spread-of-mosquito-born-disease">contracted locally for the first time</a>. A Victorian man has died from the virus, the Victorian Department of Health announced yesterday after Australia’s acting chief medical officer declared a national alert about the spread of JEV. The Victorian man, who was from the state's north and aged in his 60s, died on 28th of February. An autopsy has since revealed JEV was the cause of his death, with investigations into how he contracted the virus now underway. The man's death is the first JEV death in the state, while seven cases have been found in the same state this year. Victoria Deputy Chief Health Officer Associate Professor Deborah Friedman said before now JEV had only ever been acquired overseas. "This is the first time that Victoria has ever had locally acquired cases of Japanese encephalitis virus," she said. Associate Professor Friedman called on people to protect themselves against mosquitos, with JEV spread through the bite of an infected insects. Health Minister Martin Foley echoed the same advice, saying "if you're around mosquitos, please cover up". Associate Professor Friedman said mosquito levels were high across the state, particularly in northern Victoria, increasing the risk of infection. Most humans who contract the virus do not experience any symptoms, or only mild symptoms like headaches or fever.

Body

School under fire for gender-based enrolment contract

A Christian school in Brisbane has come under fire for requiring parents to sign a contract with new clauses around gender identity and sexual orientation. This has been deemed “utterly disgusting”.Citipointe Christian College in Carindale sent out this updated enrolment contract for parents to sign ahead of children returning to school.The contract stipulates that the school can terminate a child’s enrolment if they do not identify with their birth gender. It also notes that the bible does not make a distinction between gender and biological sex.“Whilst each student is individually valued and equally encouraged to pursue opportunities in both academic and co-curricular activities, I/we agree that, where distinctions are made between male and female (inclusive of, but not limited to, for example, uniforms, presentation, terminology, use of facilities and amenities, participation in sporting events and accommodation) such distinctions will be applied on the basis of the individual’s biological sex,” the contract states.“The Parents acknowledge and accept that, should I/we not share the college’s commitment to fostering these fundamental doctrinal precepts, this will constitute a serious departure from the religious precepts upon which Citipointe Christian College is based and will afford Citipointe Christian College the right to exclude a student from the College who no longer adheres to the College’s doctrinal precepts including those as to biological sex …”The document also dubs homosexuality “sinful, offensive and destructive”, while also lumping it into the same category as paedophilia and incest.“We believe that any form of sexual immortality (including but not limited to; adultery, fornication, homosexual acts, bisexual act, incest, paedophilia and pornography) is sinful and offensive to God and is destructive to human relationships and society,” the school document states.The document additionally outlines the schools anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia stance.“We believe that life is created at conception. We believe that every life is sacred and every person has a right to life from the first moment of conception through to the natural end of life,” the document reads.“To take life within the womb or the hasten the end of life through euthanasia is against the word of God.”The contract has sparked outrage since coming to light, with over 27,400 people calling for the school to roll back the amendments.“Citipointe is using their religious beliefs to openly discriminate against queer and trans students, as well as threatening to take away their education,” the Change.org petition started by Bethany Lau states.Ms Lau told The Courier Mail she started the contact to stand up for queer and trans children who are going to be made to feel “less than human” because of this contract.“I hope they feel less alone and they know that there are lots of people on their side and I ultimately hope that Citipointe recalls the amendment to their contract because it is inhumane,” she said.Citipointe Christian College Principal, Pastor Brian Mulheran released a statement on Saturday night saying the school has always held these Christian beliefs and they were trying to be “fair and transparent to everyone in our community” by making them clear in the enrolment contract.“We are seeking to maintain our Christian ethos and to give parents and students the right to make an informed choice about whether they can support and embrace our approach to Christian education,” he said.“Citipointe does not judge students on their sexuality or gender identity and we would not make a decision about their enrolment in the College simply on that basis.”However, Mr Mulheran’s statement appears contradictory with the contract, that clearly states the school has the right to “exclude a student from the College who no longer adheres to the College’s doctrinal precepts” which includes those around biological sex.The principal went on to claim that the school “unequivocally” loves and respects all people “regardless of their lifestyle and choices, even if those choices are different to our beliefs and practice”.Australian comedian and content creator, Christian Hull, is among those who have publicly called out the school for its updated contract, blasting it as “sickening” and damaging to young people.“The new contract is utterly disgusting and dicriminatory. I cannot believe in 2022 we are still here and still fighting these battles,” he wrote on Instagram.“I understand religion brings about a community spirit and there are many faithful people who also highly disagree with the stance that Citipointe is taking.“We need to stamp out this type of blatant bigotry and not allow the school to act in this way."Mr Hull also called out the people who claimed parents didn’t have to send their children to the school if they didn’t like its views.He said this response was coming from people who didn’t understand there are bigger issues at play.Image: Richard Walker / News.com.au

Family & Pets

Cancer survivor dies after contracting Covid from dishonest friend

Image: Facebook A US woman who survived cancer has died of Covid-19 after contracting the illness from an infected friend who hid the diagnosis to play cards at a social gathering. The woman’s grieving family has reported that Barb Bartolovich, 82, of Ohio, who had previously overcome blood cancer, was vaccinated and took all necessary precautions against Covid. Barb made sure to only socialise with like-minded people amid the pandemic, WXYZ reports. As reported by the New York Post, she decided to get together with friends to play cards and asked everyone beforehand if they were vaccinated, with everyone saying they were – but the family claims one of them had lied. “Somebody decided that testing positive for Covid is something they can hide,” Ms Bartolovich’s granddaughter, Lauren Nash, told WXYZ. “The only way we found out is that the person owned up after Nana got sick.” Ms Bartolovich was hospitalised, placed on a ventilator and died on December 21, according to the report. “She was just everything to everyone. As everyone says, if you knew Barb, you were loved. She was taken too soon,” said Ms Nash, who wants to spread the message about the importance of safety measures. “It is not worth it. It is not worth knowing you hurt someone, potentially hurt someone, or killed someone because you want to go out and have fun. “I am just horrified at where we are and what is going on, that we are not taking into account people’s lives.” Ms Bartolovich, who lost her husband, Frank “Moose” Bartolovich in 2014, “cherished her role as a wife, mother and grandmother”, according to her obituary on WKBN. “A little firecracker, Barbara was always raring to go for family gatherings, vacations and impromptu outings. She was their support system throughout life and she taught them many lessons,” it said. “Barbara’s motto was, ‘There is nothing so bad in life that can’t be fixed,’” it continued. “She was considered cool and fun to her grandchildren and they described her as, ‘To know her was to love her and to be loved by her was the most special feeling in the world. She made every one of us feel special in her own Nana way.’” Ms Bartolovich leaves behind her four children and 10 grandchildren.

Body

“Miracle girl” Milli Lucas contracts cancer for third time

A patient of neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo dubbed the “miracle girl” has had to undergo another lifesaving surgery after her cancer returned. The family of Amelia “Milli” Lucas have revealed the young girl has been diagnosed with cancer for a third time and is now in hospital undergoing risky brain surgery. The first time Milly battled terminal cancer was when she was nine years old and was expected to live for only 12 weeks. After experimental surgery, 98 per cent of her cancer was removed. She has now been alive and healthy for years since her original diagnosis, causing her recovery to be dubbed a miracle. But now, her concerned parents revealed the tragic news yesterday, that her third diagnosis has led to more treatment. Milli underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy when she first diagnosed with a very aggressive brain tumour, a Grade VI Glioblastoma, in 2016. However, in May 2019, the cancer once again reared its ugly head. Due to the cancer being in her brain, many doctors refused to operate as the tumour was in a high-risk “no-go zone”. “We were devastated when Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) put Milli into Palliative Care and advised that there was nothing more that they could do,” the family wrote on their website, Team Millstar. “PCH advised that they were unable to operate, and the chemotherapy Milli had received in addition to radiotherapy was not working and no further treatment was possible.” But thanks to renowned neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo who agreed to operate on Milli, 98 per cent of her cancer was removed. The remaining two per cent was removed by doctors in Germany. And now that the cancer has returned, she’s back on the operating table with Dr Teo. “Milli is currently in Sydney with her man Charlie again,” the family said in a statement. “She had surgery on Monday & the disease was removed. “Milli went back to surgery on Tuesday to release pressure. She remains in ICU and has another operation scheduled for Monday. “We ask that you keep her in your thoughts & further updates will be provided when possible”.

Caring

Shock as four unconnected babies contract coronavirus in the same state

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> Many are heartbroken over the news that four babies are among the latest cases of coronavirus to be confirmed in Victoria. Three of the babies are under 12 months of age and the fourth baby is a year old. According to Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, all babies will be kept at home in isolation to recover with their families. She also stressed that it’s not believed that this is a cluster of cases in a childcare centre. “It’s known that one of the cases acquired the infection overseas. There is a thorough investigation under way in relation to how these children acquired COVID-19,” she said. “I should stress it's not believed that this is a cluster, so it doesn't appear that this is one childcare centre, one group of children all known to each other.” The young cases mean that there are now five pre-school aged children confirmed to have COVID-19 in Victoria, according to Mikakos. She also added that it was believed that none of the children have any underlying medial conditions and it was thought that they would not suffer severe symptoms based on children being infected with coronavirus overseas. Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has emphasised that the risk to children is extremely low and deaths were not likely. “Overwhelmingly for children, especially those nine years and younger, the illness of COVID-19 is very very mild and deaths are virtually unheard of, so that should be a reassurance to any parent of young children,” he said, according to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-mystery-after-four-unconnected-babies-contract-virus-204613233.html" target="_blank">Yahoo! News</a>. “Clusters haven’t been reported in Australia, we’re still looking into this, but it doesn’t appear to be a cluster and the risk to these children is extremely low.” Sutton reminded the public that it is still important to remain “alert” to the potential risk of children transmitting the infection to adults, but explained that instances of this had yet to be reported in Australia. </div> </div> </div>

Body

Huge pay day! Channel 9 offers Sonia Kruger “substantial” contract

Sonia Kruger is set to be locked in for another three years at Channel 9 under a “very substantial” contract, a new report has claimed. The network has offered the TV host a three-year contract extension “which would see her continuing to do Today Extra, would see her doing The Voice and other projects as they arise”, entertainment reporter Peter Ford said on 6PR. “I’m told the amount of money involved is very substantial, you’re looking at $1.5 million plus for the three years, which is good considering the bulk of that is in daytime television,” Ford said. Kruger, who joined Channel 9 at the end of 2011 after 14 years with Seven Network, is yet to accept the contract deal. The alleged offer came a week after a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/nine-slams-newspaper-over-shameful-reports-on-erin-molan-and-sonia-kruger">Sunday Telegraph report</a> claimed that Kruger was to be axed from the network as part of a reshuffle. Amid reports of Today’s <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/nail-in-the-coffin-today-show-reaches-a-record-low">ailing ratings</a>, Karl Stefanovic has also been tipped to return to the breakfast show next year alongside Allison Langdon. Media analyst Julian Evans claimed that Stefanovic and Langdon will <a href="https://twitter.com/julespineapple/status/1190056968175542272">be the main co-hosts of Today</a>, while Georgie Gardner will shift over as co-host of Today Extra. Last week, Stefanovic addressed the <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/morning-shows/today-show-karl-stefanovic-addresses-his-rumoured-return-to-breakfast-tv-show/news-story/cb0f277c31587c20d878b929dabe6b86">growing rumours</a> that he will be making a return to breakfast television. “That’s what I keep trying to tell Channel 9, that I’m the lucky charm,” he said on Nova. “If they want to pad me up and send me in, I’m ready to go in and we’ll have a win.”

Caring

Sam Armytage's Sunrise contract up in the air: "I don't know what the future holds"

Just when you thought Australia’s breakfast TV hosts had finished <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/2017/11/karl-stefanovic-new-co-shot-at-today-finally-announced/" target="_blank">playing their game of musical chairs</a>, stunning comments from Sunrise presenter Sam Armytage have thrown her future on the popular Channel 7 morning program into doubt. The Daily Telegraph reports that Armytage’s contract with Sunrise is due to expire next year, and the presenter is being <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/2017/11/channel-10-wants-samantha-armytage-for-new-brekkie-show/" target="_blank">headhunted by Channel 10’s new US owner CBS</a>. “Life has to evolve and wherever it evolves, I don’t know. I honestly haven’t thought about it too much just yet,” Armytage said, addressing the rumours. “I never expected to get this job. I hope it continues a bit longer but mornings are a hard slog and I don’t know what the future holds.” Armytage also commented on recent debate surrounding the gender pay gap which has been brought about by <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/2017/11/lisa-wilkinson-reveals-the-real-reason-she-left-today/" target="_blank">Lisa Wilkinson’s widely publicised move</a> from mornings on Channel Nine’s Today to evenings on Channel 10’s The Project. The Sunrise presenter argued it’s “completely ridiculous” to expect pay parity in an industry that didn’t have a regimented pay scale in place and, “any of us would be lying to say that we are all trying to earn the same”. “I think there’s an awful lot of men that I’m paid better than, so that argument is completely ridiculous. That’s not bragging; that’s just a fact,” she said. “If somebody can run their price up because they are being offered something by another network then good luck to them. If you’re lucky, you have that once or twice in your career.” <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSunrise%2Fvideos%2F10155020628425887%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> Armytage also quashed rumours that she was being paid a mere half of the $1 million annual pay packet rumoured to be earned by her morning co-host David Koch. “I try to stay in my lane; worry about myself and try not to be looking over my colleagues’ back fences too much,” Armytage said. “I don’t know exactly what Kochie earns and he doesn’t know what I earn. Nobody has ever guessed my salary correctly.” “I’m very happy with where I am. Kochie has been doing the job 15 years … so if there were any differences, which I don’t think there is too much, then it’s probably deserved.” What are your thoughts? Would you be sad to see Sam leave Sunrise? Hero image credit: YouTube / NateDogg

Money & Banking

Retirement village contracts should be regulated like insurance

Timothy King, Senior Lecturer, Department of Applied Finance and Actuarial Studies, Macquarie University, explains why retirement village contracts need to be regulated like insurance. While you may think signing a retirement village contract is similar to buying a house or apartment, it isn’t. Retirement village contracts resemble insurance contracts more than purchase agreements, only they aren’t regulated like insurance products. The lack of regulation increases the risk for retirees. They face considerable delays in receiving their payments when they leave, costs due to the delay, and the potential loss of all payment from companies that don’t need to meet the financial standards of an insurance company. Most retirement village contracts provide the consumer with a combination of the right to reside in the retirement village (until death, incapacity for independent living, or voluntarily relocation) and an “exit payment” upon leaving. As both the amount and timing of this payment depends on the resident’s death or ill health, the payment is a de facto insurance payout. This makes the retirement village contract a combination of the right to reside and a de facto insurance policy. But the insurance policy comes from companies that wouldn’t normally be allowed to sell insurance. Retirement villages are mostly small private companies or not-for-profit organisations. This means they aren’t required to publish their annual financial statements, hold reserves, or have reinsurance arrangements like an insurance company. The consumer can’t be confident that the retirement village is financially healthy and able to pay out the exit fee, due to the absence of information about their accounts and financial condition. Fees and more fees There is a great variation in the structure of the fees that retirement villages charge – entry fees, ongoing fees and a so-called “deferred management fee”, which is an amount taken out of the money refunded to departing residents. These fees can be substantial – the entry fee alone is often comparable with the cost of buying an apartment. Although the amount varies by location, one operator told a Victorian parliamentary inquiry the entry fee was equivalent to 80% of the cost of a house nearby. A retirement village contract might have an entry fee of A$1 million, a deferred management fee of 6% of the entry fee per year of residence, and a maintenance fee of A$500 per month. For a contract with a A$1 million entry fee, after five or more years of residence, the deferred management fee is A$300,000, so the exit payment is A$700,000. But the deferred management fee can vary greatly. It may be 10% per year for three years, or 3% for 10 years etc. The exit payment can also include some share of the resale value of the apartment. But the retirement village needs to be able to pay out this exit payment. The need for proper regulation The assets held by retirement villages are almost all invested in real estate. This is risky, as they aren’t diversified and their assets can’t be easily turned into cash. When a retirement village has to pay a departing resident their exit payment it may take a long time to sell their apartment, which could involve a loss on resale. This can also lead to delays in receiving exit payments. After signing their retirement village contract, residents are also in a weaker bargaining position than a traditional tenant in a normal pay-as-you-go rental arrangement. This is because residents have already paid their rent in advance for the rest of their life, and it usually costs a lot of money to get out of these contracts. In some retirement village contracts the resident may be forced to spend a lot of money on renovations – such as for a new bathroom and kitchen – so that the apartment can be sold and they can get the exit payment. This issue is compounded by the complexity of the contracts, which can be hard for both consumers and financial advisers to understand. This creates substantial risk for consumers, and the lack of a requirement to publish financial statements and related information makes it very difficult to assess the financial soundness of a retirement village operator. If retirement village contracts are in fact insurance agreements, then they should be regulated differently – by the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority and not by state governments, as is now the case. If retirement villages were properly regulated then consumers would be better protected from failure of operators and better protected from delays and capital losses when they get their exit payment. What are your thoughts? Written by Timothy King. First appeared on <a href="http://www.theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

Legal

Retirement village contracts should be regulated like insurance

Legal

60-year-old “hipster” lands modelling contract

It’s not every day that you see a 60-year-old bearded man gracing billboards and fashion magazines, but Phillipe Dumas has done just that. The handsome Frenchman, whose lifelong dream has always been to become a model, finally had his wish come true after pictures he posted of himself to Reddit with the caption, “Retired but not out, giving a last go to my lifelong dream of becoming a model, do I have it in me?” went viral, racking up almost 400,000 views. That was 6 months ago, and today Dumas is living the dream, landing a several high-profile modelling campaigns with Getty and Joop! Homme. Prior to breaking into the fashion world, Dumas worked as a location unit manager for film studios and spent 10 years working in marketing. After the advertising company he worked for went bankrupt, the senior finally took his chance to achieve his lifelong ambition. As for the secret to his youthful spirit and strong body? “I go to the gym five days a week, doing weight lifting for the muscles, cardio for the heart and some ballet dancing for the fun and a good body posture,” he tells <a href="http://stylearia.com/?p=3412" target="_blank">Style Aria</a>. “Regarding my diet, I love food but I have to be very careful not to put too much weight on so I try to eat healthy but sometimes I fall for a nice and juicy hamburger full of carbs.” Take a look at some of his snaps in the gallery above, we think you’ll agree he could give some of the young ones a run for their money! Tell us in the comments below, did you achieve your lifelong dream later in life? Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/06/87-year-old-great-grandma-graduates-from-high-school/">87-year-old great grandma graduates from high school</a> <a href="/lifestyle/retirement-life/2016/05/100-year-old-model-stars-in-new-ad-for-vogues-100th-anniversary/">100-year-old model stars in new ad for Vogue’s 100th anniversary</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/02/56-year-old-model-proves-you-get-better-with-age/">Curvy 56-year-old model proves you get better with age</a>

News

Your rights when it comes to contracts

If you’ve ever tried to get out of a phone contract early only to be slugged with a steep termination fee, you’ll understand the importance of reading the fine print. And while there are a number of laws designed to protect consumers from unfair contracts, the responsibility is on the individual to not get caught in the first place. We’re going to take a look at the most-common unfair contracts, so you can understand the warning signs and what you have to do if you find yourself stuck in one. What contracts are commonly unfair? As consumer advocate group CHOICE outlines, the most-commonly unfair contracts are standard choice contracts. In addition, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) notes, “The law does not define a ‘standard form contract’. However, in broad terms, a standard form contract is one that has been prepared by one party to the contract and is not subject to negotiation between the parties – that is, it is offered on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis.” The reason these contracts are so tricky for consumers is because they are pre-prepared by one party and not tailored to the individual’s needs. What are the warning signs to look out for? When you’re signing a contract, it’s important to look for the following warning signs, to ensure that you don’t get caught out by terms beyond your means: <ul> <li>The contract doesn’t outline the rights and responsibilities of each party.</li> <li>The contract has elements that you don’t understand.</li> <li>The contract contains blank spaces yet to be filled.</li> <li>You feel pressured into signing the contract.</li> </ul> Is it possible to get out of a contract without termination fees? Well, here’s the tricky part and to be honest a lot of it depends on the nature of your contract. Unfair contract terms for financial services and products are enforced by ASIC, while unfair contact terms for goods and services are enforced by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC). In general, you can try the following: <ul> <li>Raise the issue with the business itself.</li> <li>Tell the business that you think it’s unfair and get the complaint in writing.</li> <li>If you can’t get anywhere with the business, contact your consumer protection agency.</li> </ul> Related links: <a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/05/who-to-contact-if-you-have-been-scammed/">Who to contact if you have been scammed</a> <a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/05/4-reasons-paying-too-much-mobile-phone/">4 reasons your mobile phone bill is too large</a> <a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/04/one-billion-dollars-waiting-to-be-claimed-by-aussies/">One billion dollars waiting to be claimed by Aussies</a>

Money & Banking

Hidden costs to retirement village contracts

Entering a retirement village contract in Australia can be a risky financial move. A review from Australian consumer regulator CHOICE found that by and large standard contracts from major village developers in Australia were long, complicated, confusing and, “appeared to contain terms that weighed heavily in favour of the village operators.” As every state has different rules regarding disclosure of retirement village costs and regulations it can be difficult to determine the true cost of living in or trying to leave the village. The complicated contracts affect approximately 80 per cent of Australia’s 190,000 village residents. And it’s interesting to compare this model to the one adopted in areas like Europe and the US, who have chosen a pay-as-you-go lease style contract, making price comparisons much easier. Retirement Living Council (RLC) executive director Mary Wood told CHOICE the ingoing contribution model was originally set up in the interest of retirees by public-minded people: "One reason it exists is so people without a lot of money can live in a higher quality, age-adaptive environment with amenities that wouldn't be affordable to them otherwise.” “Most people who live in retirement villages are pensioners on low incomes,” Wood added. “Without access to the funds upfront, most retirement villages would not be built, Wood maintains. It's a view that's shared by others in the industry, who say retirement villages are generally not attractive investment prospects. "The exit fees represent the profit margins for developers.” CHOICE recommends you take the following measures when choosing a retirement village <ul> <li>Have a lawyer review the contract and make sure you understand all fees?</li> <li>Instead of an upfront lump sum, is there an option to pay by the week or month?</li> <li>If you pay a lump sum, how much will you get back when you leave?</li> <li>What ongoing fees will you have to pay and what exactly do these fees cover?</li> <li>Can fees increase during the term of the contract? If so, can you dispute them?</li> <li>What do any exit fees – including a deferred management fee – cover?</li> <li>Who's responsible for selling your unit if you leave?</li> <li>Are you still liable for weekly fees after you move out?</li> <li>Do you have to pay weekly fees if you leave the village for extended periods?</li> <li>Does the company that owns the village operate the village?</li> </ul> Related links: <a href="/finance/retirement-income/2016/01/a-third-of-women-are-retiring-in-poverty/">A third of Aussie women are retiring in poverty</a> <a href="/finance/retirement-income/2016/01/10-exciting-retirement-adventures/">10 exciting retirement adventure ideas</a> <a href="/finance/retirement-income/2016/01/should-you-withdraw-all-of-your-super-at-once/">Is it a bad idea to withdraw all of your super at once?</a>

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Your rights when it comes to contracts

Hidden costs to retirement village contracts

Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Rebel Wilson reveals strict Pitch Perfect "weight contract"

Junior staff are finding better contracts, senior staff are burning out: the arts are losing the war for talent

Japanese encephalitis virus contracted in Victoria claims its first victim

School under fire for gender-based enrolment contract

Cancer survivor dies after contracting Covid from dishonest friend

“Miracle girl” Milli Lucas contracts cancer for third time

Shock as four unconnected babies contract coronavirus in the same state

Huge pay day! Channel 9 offers Sonia Kruger “substantial” contract

Sam Armytage's Sunrise contract up in the air: "I don't know what the future holds"

Retirement village contracts should be regulated like insurance

Retirement village contracts should be regulated like insurance

60-year-old “hipster” lands modelling contract

Your rights when it comes to contracts

Hidden costs to retirement village contracts

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