Retirement living communities are an increasingly important, yet under-examined, setting within Australia’s ageing landscape. As more residents age-in-place, these communities are evolving beyond a primary focus on housing and property management to respond to changing health, wellbeing and support needs. This shift brings opportunity and tension: supporting independence alongside growing complexity, remaining distinct from residential aged care, and balancing resident choice with risk, regulation and service expectations. This symposium positions retirement living as a critical frontier for innovation, bringing together research evidence, co-design, and lived experience to re-imagine what later-life environments can enable, highlighting how placing residents at the centre can strengthen wellbeing, inclusion, participation and flourishing in later life. Purpose/aims The symposium aims to advance understanding of retirement living as a distinct and influential ageing setting. It examines how communities are navigating ageing in place, increasing health complexity, inclusion and resident autonomy, and explores the implications for service design, care models and system decisions. Activity overview Across five linked presentations, the symposium explores retirement living as a setting where independence, community connection, and access to support intersect, and where intentional design, services, and community practices can shape experiences of ageing. Presentations and discussion will generate insights relevant to researchers, practitioners and policymakers working across ageing, housing and service systems. Expected learning outcomes Participants will be able to: • Recognise retirement living as a distinct and influential setting for supporting ageing in place, wellbeing and independence; • Understand how resident co-design informs practical, evidence-based approaches to lifestyle, health and wellbeing in retirement living; • Appreciate how inclusive environments, including hearing- and vision-friendly design, support participation; • Recognise the prevalence and impact of informal caring and cognitive change within retirement living; • Reflect on the value of resident-led initiatives and community-based development in enabling contribution and flourishing in later life.