Our positive ageing adviser works with councils to help plan for an ageing population and provide leadership in promoting age-friendly communities.
Councils are encouraged to develop whole-of-council positive ageing plans which include:
- researching and mapping existing local government best practice
- providing tools and resources to support the development of positive ageing plans
- promoting relevant and good-quality external tools and resources
- contacting our positive ageing adviser for information and resources
- running events such as seminars and forums
Global Age-Friendly Cities Project
We assisted the World Health Organisation's Global Age-Friendly Cities Project [PDF]. The project involved 33 cities from 22 countries in a consultation process with community agencies and community members to identify the key elements of an age-friendly city.
The McCaughey Centre at the University of Melbourne undertook the project in Melbourne on our behalf. This project ran in 2007.
Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is a key element of positive ageing. We funded the City of Darebin to undertake a project researching how to engage isolated older people in lifelong learning, particularly the University of the Third Age.
Reducing & stopping driving
The Department of Infrastructure's Driver to Non-driver Project [PDF] identified what can be done to assist older drivers as they reduce or stop driving and move to other forms of transport.
As a result of this project, the Department of Infrastructure undertook the Mobility Adviser Pilot Project. This project researched the transportation needs of older drivers who had reduced or stopped driving.
The research found that older people:
- would ask family, doctors and their local council for information about reducing or stopping driving
- supported the Travel Assist concept
- needed more resources and information to help their transition from driver to non-driver
Local councils were considered the most appropriate channel to deliver information about transport options since they are a trusted source for older people.
Our positive ageing adviser was a member of the project's steering committee.
Positive ageing strategies
Find out more about Victorian councils' positive ageing strategies.