MEDIA RELEASE
11 September 2025

Geelong expansion marks first move beyond metropolitan Melbourne in 20-year history 

Homesafe Wealth Release, Australia’s leading debt-free equity release solution, has launched in Geelong, VIctoria.

The expansion is a timely response to growing demand in regional Victoria, where rising housing debt and retirement pressures are placing increased financial strain on older Australians.

Almost half of Australian homeowners retire with a mortgage and this milestone reflects Homesafe’s growing role in supporting financial independence for older Australians, especially those facing rising living costs and limited superannuation balances.

Recent data from the Geelong Community Foundation’s Vital Signs 2023–24 report  reveals that almost 29 per cent of mortgage holders in the region are at risk of mortgage stress, with interest charges rising by over 90 per cent in the 2023-24 financial year. 
This will enable more Victorians to unlock the wealth in their homes with zero debt, zero compounding interest charges and zero repayments while continuing to live in them. 

Homesafe CEO Dianne Shepherd said Geelong was the natural next step for Homesafe.
“Homesafe is a trusted brand that has been providing asset-rich older Australian homeowners with access to home equity, debt free, for over 20 years,” Shepherd said.
“We’ve seen how our solution transforms retirement outcomes for homeowners in Melbourne, and we’re pleased to now offer the same opportunity to the Geelong community. 

“Homesafe’s expansion offers a timely and trusted alternative for Victorian retirees seeking financial relief.
“Homesafe is not a loan or a reverse mortgage and continues to be the popular debt free way for seniors to access the wealth tied up in their homes.
“With a proven track record and deep commitment to later life wellbeing, Homesafe’s entry into Geelong marks a new chapter in empowering older Australians to live with confidence and independence.”

Nationally, mortgage debt among Australians aged 55 and over has surged by 600%  since the late 1980s, with nearly half of those aged 55–64 still paying off their mortgage as they approach retirement.

Since Homesafe was founded in 2005, Homesafe Wealth Release has helped over 8000 Australian retirees unlock the equity in their homes.

“Many older homeowners have done everything right - worked hard, paid off most of their mortgage, and raised families, but now they’re squeezed by rising living costs and uncertain income in retirement. They don’t have the wealth to pay off their debt when thinking about retirement,” Shepherd said.  
“This can be distressing and borrowing against a home can lead to compounding debt that puts long-term equity at risk. Homesafe provides homeowners with a debt-free way to unlock the value in their home today, while giving them confidence to stay where they feel safe, supported and in control.

“It has become a trusted a model for thousands of Australians seeking a more stable financial future in retirement. We’re proud of the trust we have built over two decades and our product is designed with fairness, transparency and customer protection at its core. 
“Whether it’s paying off a remaining mortgage, covering living expenses, or simply enjoying retirement without financial stress, more Australians are discovering the value of turning to their most valuable asset – their home – without having to sell it*.”

*Terms, conditions and eligibility criteria apply.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Brian Karlovsky | brian@nichegroup.com.au | 0449 892 125
Lyndelle Morgan | lyndelle@nichegroup.com.au | 0414 232 225