WHO Global Age-Friendly Cities Project

The MAV/COTA Project has been actively involved in the World Health Organisation Age-Friendly Cities Project. The project, which ran in 2007, engaged 33 cities from 22 countries in aconsultation process with community agencies and community members to identify the key elements of an age-friendly city.

The McCaughey Centre at Melbourne University undertook the project in Melbourne on behalf ofthe MAV/COTA Positive Ageing Project with the direct involvement of the City of Maribyrnong in the research.

The project is a very exciting initiative and the report and checklist provide sound information to assist councils and communities in assessing local environments for older people and in creating opportunities for improving those places to better meet the needs of people as they age.

All councils in Victoria have been sent a hard copy of the documents.

The global report can be downloaded from the following link:

www.who.int/ageing/publications/Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf>

The result of the project was the development of the Checklist of Essential Features of Age-Friendly Cities. The checklist can be downloaded from the following link.

www.mccaugheycentre.unimelb.edu.au/pdf_library/AFC_Checklist_English.pdf>

The MAV/COTA Positive Ageing Project is keen to see the checklist taken up by local councils and a number of projects are in the planning stages for assessing local communities for their age friendliness. Further information will be posted on this site when available.

The MAV in late 2009 commissioned research into the use of the WHO Age Friendly Cities Guide & Checklist by Victorian Councils. The research report can be found at:

Download The WHO Age Friendly Cities Guide & Checklist by Victorian Councils File size: 719 KB

 

Lifelong learning is a key element of positive ageing.  Lifelong learning is being explored through a number of projects funded through the MAV/COTA Positive Ageing Project. 

The City of Darebin has undertaken a large project working with hard to reach and isolated older people developing ways to engage them in lifelong learning, particularly focussing on U3A's.

The City of Darebin has developed a lifelong learning policy that can be access via the following link

www.darebin.vic.gov.au/Page/Download.asp?name=Lifelong_Learning_Policy.pdf&size=864130&link=../Files/Lifelong_Learning_Policy.pdf

A number of demonstration projects have addressed issues relating to mobility and access for older people.  A brief summary of these projects and some of the useful tools developed is presented below,

Council	Project description
Banyule	To develop an age-friendly place management plan that contributes to the design of the Greensborough Principal Activity Centre (GPAC) and increases current and future participation and access for people over 60 years from Banyule and Nillumbik.  The project will identify how older people can gain increased access to current services and programs in Greensborough and identify solutions to guide future planning and advocacy.
Greater Geelong	The Project aims to explore and resolve design elements and infrastructure treatments that facilitate active transport and use of the footpath network by the whole community. The pathways are particularly targeted at increasing active transport within an ageing community. The pathways will provide significant linkages to destinations including activity centres and public transport and will promote increased public use of community infrastructure. The pathways will improve amenity, create safer road use, safer traffic treatments and encourage more active use of road space, reducing social isolation and promoting wellbeing. http://www.geelongaustralia.com.au/...Northern_Bellarine/
Manningham	The project addresses the development, promotion and implementation of measures to encourage and increase the number of people of all ages walking and cycling to Jackson Court Activity Centre but will specifically encourage and target older people.
Hindmarsh	The high number of motorised scooter users in Hindmarsh Shire and their need to gain access to places of work, commerce and social activities has highlighted a need to address the issue of scooter use. The Project worked with scooter users to provide information on safe use of scooters, identify safe routes on pathways in Hindmarsh and to audit pathways to identify where upgrading is required.
Knox	Age-Friendly Shopping Centres - Develop a strategic direction in planning for the provision of an age-friendly built environment with appropriate services contributing to the wellbeing of older adults and adult visitors into the future.

Driver to Non-Driver Project

The Department of Infrastructure in Victoria has undertaken a major project on the transition from driver to non-driver. This project has identified a number of actions to provide practical support to assist older drivers as they reduce or cease driving and move to other forms of transport.

Information can be downloaded from:

www.doi.vic.gov.au/Doi/Internet/planningprojects.nsf/AllDocs/383B1372FCA1F9CCCA257398001ECD17?OpenDocument>

Mobility Adviser Pilot Project

The State Government through the Department of Infrastructure is undertaking the Mobility Adviser Pilot project which follows the Driver to Non-Driver Project (see above).  The project undertook a literature review, focus groups and an extensive survey of older people across Victoria by telephone interview in 2007.  The research aimed at identifying the transport information needs of retired drivers and older people who are limiting their driving.  The project will assist in understanding the transport and mobility information needs of older people as they move from independent transport to public, community and assisted transport. 

Some key findings from the research indicate:

• A need for resources and information to assist the transition from driver to non-driver
• A lack of resources and information in Victoria concerning driving retirement and alternative transport
• A need for new resources to make older people more confident moving to retirement from driving including information on alternative transport options

Information from the formative research relevant to local government includes:

• When considering information requirements relating to driving cessation family, doctors and the local council were identified as the most likely source of information
• The Mobility Adviser concept was favourably received
• Local councils were considered the most appropriate channel to deliver the Mobility Adviser service given the high level of familiarity and trust professed by older Victorians
• Supporting communications on transport options would be most effective if provided through trusted sources such as a local doctor or local council

The project is now moving to the pilot stage and will be seeking the involvement of a small number of councils to explore and pilot the concept of a mobility adviser service.

The project does raise a number of issues in relation to the availability or not of public and community transport options for older people, particularly in rural and remote areas and how useful a service would be if few alternatives to private car transport exist.

Further information will be provided as it becomes available.

The MAV/COTA Positive Ageing Adviser is a member of the Steering Committee for the project.

Local Government Initiatives

The following links provide recent resource material from councils in Victoria who have undertaken work in the area of housing for older people.  More information will be added to this site over time as many LGAs are involved in important work with older people's housing issues.

Mornington Peninsula	Housing Developments for Older People	www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/content/content.asp?cid=766&tid=766&tpid=512&sid=&spid=&cnid=1630
Wodonga	Housing Options for Seniors - A  document to attract investment in development of seniors housing	www.wodonga.vic.gov.au/council/services/older/snrhousing.htm

 

AHURI (Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute)

AHURI has undertaken many reviews and research projects on housing and older people among a wide range of housing issues.  Their website can be accessed at:  www.ahuri.edu.au/

The National Housing Conference was held in Sydney in February 2008.  A number of presentations focussed on housing for older people.  The conference program and many of the presentation can be found at:  www.nationalhousingconference.org.au/browse.asp?ContainerID=program_2008

Some recent reports prepared by AHURI of interest to Positive Ageing include:

The impact of home maintenance and modification services on health, community care and housing outcomes in later life www.ahuri.edu.au/publications/download/20335_pp

MAV Overview of "Meeting Our Transport Challenges" Statement

The Victorian Government's transport and livability statement, Meeting Our Transport Challenges (released in May 2006), provides $10.5 billion over 10 years, representing a significant commitment to transport expenditure.  The statement offers a long-term integrated transport plan with funded actions and timelines across modes.

The MAV has advocated for a long-term integrated transport strategy.  This paper provides an overview of the major initiatives outlined in the statement and the direct and indirect implications for local government. Many of the figures included in the MAV's document were provided by the Department of Infrastructure, offering greater detail than is available in the Government's statement.
Download MAV Overview of "Meeting Our Transport Challenges" Statement File size: 98 KB