Great Lakes CouncilA Centre of Excellence for Ageing

The Great LakesWhere are we?

Located on NSW mid-north coast – 320 km from Sydney and 170km from Newcastle

What does our LGA look like?3,375 km2 36,312 residentsPopulation density –

0.10 people/hectareSmall towns, farms, national

parks, forestry

Our demographics

0-4 5-11 12-17 18-24 25-34 35-49 50-59 60-69 70-84 85 +0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

Age Group (years)

Our aged population

Age Group (years)

50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85+0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

201120212036

Council’s responseThe high percentage of older

people in our LGA has both negatives and positives

We need to plan strategically for an ageing population

Focus on the positive“Centre of Excellence for Ageing” –

December 2012

First stepsPartner with COTA in pilot for application to WHO for

membership of the Global Network for Age Friendly Cities and Communities

Find out what older people think will make Great Lakes more age-friendly

Develop a whole-of-Council Ageing Strategy

How we did it1. Used the WHO AFCC framework and processes

2. Focus groups in Bulahdelah, Stroud, Tea Gardens, Forster • Older people, service

providers, businesses,staff

3. Survey • Respondents aged 50+

Key issues from Focus Groups

Trans

porta

tion

Comm

unica

tion/

Info

rmat

ion

Comm

unity

Sup

port

/Hea

lth S

ervic

es

Outdo

or S

pace

s and

Bui

ldin

gs

Socia

l Par

ticip

atio

n

Housin

g

Respe

ct an

d Soc

ial In

clusio

n

Civic P

artic

ipat

ion/

Em

ploy

men

t0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Community

Services and Business

Survey: age-friendliness rating

Transportation

Social support and health services

Communication and information

Respect and social inclusion

Housing

Social participation

Civic participation and employment

Outdoor spaces and buildings

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Excellent/GoodAveragePoor/Very Poor

ChallengesTwo of the top three issues are not Council’s

responsibility

How to includethis in the Strategy

Where are we up to?Active Ageing Strategy adopted by CouncilShift the way society thinks about ageing:

Medical model

Socialmodel

illnessincapacitycare

inclusionparticipationcontribution

Where are we up to? continued

Application made to WHO for membership to Global Network of Age-friendly Cities & Communities

Advertising for EOI for CommunityReference Group

Photo: courtesy Great Lakes Advocate

What’s next?Continue with establishment of Community

Reference GroupSeek funding to implement actions

Current funding applications with DSS – Healthy Ageing, LGNSW – Creative Ageing, Seniors Week

Continuing education – change of cultureOther Council sectionsCommunity