As Australians over 55 start to think about what retirement might look like, new Stockland research shows that purpose-built communities are helping people live happier, healthier and more connected lives.
Nearly one in five older Australians report feeling lonely some or most of the time[1], with loneliness costing the nation an estimated $900 million a year through its impact on health, wellbeing and social participation.[2]
But new national data From Stockland’s 2025 Liveability and Wellbeing Survey suggests there is a better way forward.
According to the survey, homeowners in its Halcyon over-50s land lease communities are recording Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) scores 11.6 points higher than the national average for Australians aged 55 and over. Halcyon homeowners are scoring 84.7[3] compared with the national benchmark of 73.1[4].
The PWI measures satisfaction across key areas of life including relationships, health, safety and sense of community – all closely linked with feelings of connection and loneliness. Australian Centre on Quality of Liferesearch shows that higher wellbeing scores correlate with lower levels of loneliness and a stronger sense of belonging.
For many over 50s, loneliness is often tied to boredom, inactivity or facing life’s challenges alone. The findings paint a powerful picture of how connection, environment and purpose-built design can help Australians not only live longer – but live better.[5]
Wellbeing expert Dr Darren Morton, author of Live More Happy, said a wellbeing score that’s more than 11 points above the national average is substantial.
“Stockland Halcyon’s wellbeing score reflects how social connection, safety and purpose are not just nice-to-haves – they’re essential ingredients for a longer, happier life,” Dr Morton said.
“The antidote to loneliness isn’t simply being surrounded by people – it’s having meaningful connection. Communities that foster belonging and purpose give people a reason to get up each day with energy and joy. When we transition into our later years, the challenge is to stay energised – both physically and socially. It’s important to stay active, stay connected, and do things that matter. The goal isn’t to retire from life – it’s to rewire it.”
Queensland General Manager of Stockland Halcyon Communities, Scott Ng, said the findings highlight how connection and design are shaping a new vision for ageing well in Australia.
“This research reinforces what our homeowners tell us every day – that connection, purpose and belonging have a direct impact on happiness, health and how we age,” Mr Ng said.
“Our communities are designed to make those connections possible – from shared spaces that bring people together to environments that promote activity, safety and independence.
“The top contributors to wellbeing in our communities are satisfaction with standard of living (87%), personal relationships (86%) and safety (83%) – three areas where thoughtful design and genuine connection make a profound difference.”
For homeowners like 57-year-old Arnelda Janse Van Rensburg, the impact has been life changing.
“Being single and with limited family in Australia, I recognised that I needed to live in a community rather than an apartment,” Ms Janse Van Rensburg said.
“I could sense that apartment living might leave me feeling disconnected.
“Since moving to Halcyon Vision at Hope Island almost three years ago, I’ve thrived. Everyone is so welcoming and has encouraged me to become more active, joining aqua-aerobics and gym classes, going to musicals and cafés and I have made such great friends. We also have a Vision Social Group that organises lots functions from New Year’s Eve up to Christmas each year. I really love it here.”
As Dr Morton puts it:
“Australians are redefining retirement – asking not where to retire, but how to truly live.”
About the PWI (Personal Wellbeing Index)
Developed by Deakin University’s Australian Centre on Quality of Life (ACQOL), the PWI is a validated measure of self-reported satisfaction across seven core domains of life that together reflect a person’s overall sense of wellbeing:
- Standard of living
- Personal health
- Achievement in life
- Personal relationships
- Safety
- Community-connectedness
- Future security
Respondents rate their satisfaction with each domain on a 0–10 scale, and the results are then standardised to a 0-100 index. The average national PWI typically ranges between 70 and 76 for the general Australian population – with 73.1 being the most recent benchmark for Australians aged 55+.
About Dr Darren Morton
Dr Darren Morton is a wellbeing scientist and Director of the Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre at Avondale University. With a PhD in human physiology, he has published widely on lifestyle medicine and positive psychology and is the author of Live More Happy and Live More Active, translating wellbeing science into everyday strategies for living with purpose and joy.
[1] Melbourne Institute, Applied Economic & Social Research. nHousehold, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey: Selected Findings 2024. Longitudinal data showing that around one in five older (typically 65 and over) Australians experience loneliness, with prevalence increasing among those aged 75 and above. https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/hilda and https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/older-australians-join-the-fight-against-loneliness-and-social-isolation.
[2] The Medical Journal of Australia, “The loneliness epidemic: a holistic view of its health and economic implications in older age,” Vol. 221, No. 6 (2024), DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52285, available at: https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2024/221/6/loneliness-epidemic-holistic-view-its-health-and-economic-implications-older-age. The article cites Deloitte Access Economics, The Economic Cost of Loneliness in Australia (Australian Psychological Society and Australian Unity, 2019), which estimated the total cost of loneliness at $2.7 billion per year, with adults aged 55 and over accounting for more than one-third (≈ $900 million).
[3] Scores were derived from a Stockland Liveability Index survey with a sample of 1470 homeowners in Feb-Mar 2025.
[4] Australian Centre on Quality of Life (ACQOL), Personal Wellbeing Index Survey (June 2024), Deakin University. National benchmark: The ACQOL reports a national average Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI) score of 73.1 for Australians aged 55+, derived from domain scores of 69.9 (55–64), 73.0 (65–74), and 76.5 (75+). Scores were derived from a sample of ~3000 people.
[5] National Seniors Australia, Social Connectedness & Isolation among Older Australians (2025), p. 8 —https://nationalseniors.com.au/uploads/2025-NSA-Social-connection-isolation.pdf
