Victor Harcourt

I am a Partner at Russell Kennedy and I lead the Regulatory Compliance - Aged Care team. I provide legal services to providers, peak bodies and others in the Aged Care and Retirement Living industry, and the Disability Services industry.

I work with Boards and executive teams on regulatory advice and investigations, coronial investigations and inquests, compliance programs, governance and risk, and the litigation that comes out of these matters. 

The significant reforms to the Aged Care Act, Retirement Villages Acts and the NDIS legislation present significant challenges to providers to change and remain compliant. Board members, the ELT and front line workers need to understand the complexity of the rights and duties of providers and translate them into practice. My advice to providers through this period has been to stay focused on innovation rather than the noise, and to take guidance from people they can trust.

Doyle's Guide has listed me among leading Victorian Health & Aged Care Lawyers every year since 2017, and has ranked me Preeminent in 2018 and in each of 2024, 2025 and 2026. In 2019 I was also recognised as a Leading Health & Aged Care Lawyer nationally. I have been named in the Best Lawyers in Australia list for Health and Aged Care Law since 2012, Government Practice since 2014, and Retirement Villages and Senior Living Law since 2017.

Best Lawyers named me Lawyer of the Year in Melbourne for Retirement Villages and Senior Living Law in 2023, and for Health and Aged Care Law in 2014. In 2013 I received the Law Institute of Victoria President's Award for Mentor of the Year.

I regularly speak at Ageing Australia National and State Conferences. I am currently working with my team delivering a series of educational webinars in relation to the reforms affecting Aged Care, Retirement Living and NDIS providers. 

My areas of practice: Aged Care & Health Law; Retirement Villages & Senior Living Law; Regulatory Compliance and Public Law; Coronial Investigations and Inquests; Litigation, Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries