Ninety‑year‑old John Devereux, who celebrated his birthday in the town hall, said, "I would hate to leave," and backs the idea of staying in his community. Everald Compton, founder of the National Seniors Association and 94 years old, travelled from Brisbane to endorse the model, calling it a solution that could be repeated in towns across Australia.

Associate professor Sophie Andrews, neurocognition lead at the University of Sunshine Coast’s Healthy Brain Ageing Research Program, explained that remaining in a familiar environment can lead to better health and social outcomes, noting that people who move into aged‑care facilities often decline more quickly.

Funding, however, is uncertain. KDCCAI received an $84,000 grant from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, which will be used to improve disability access at the community hub. While the federal government offers grants of up to $300 million for eligible providers, a spokesperson for the health minister said those funds do not cover independent‑living projects like Kilkivan’s, leaving the request to the state government, which has not yet committed money.

The Kilkivan experiment highlights two lessons: community‑led aging‑in‑place initiatives can address the specific needs of rural seniors, and existing funding streams must become more adaptable if such pilots are to move beyond the planning stage.