Council Involvement with Senior Citizens Centres & Seniors Clubs Report on 2013 Survey of Victorian Councils March 2013 Jan Bruce Positive Ageing Policy Adviser

Elderly Citizens Centres Long history Older Persons Welfare Council (now COTA) actively involved State government subsidies post WWII Councils had management responsibility for subsidised clubs Benevolent role of clubs: 1982 – name changed to Senior Citizens Club 1985 – moved to HACC program

History of Senior Citizens Club Numbers 1947 – 1 centre in Fitzroy 1948 – South Melbourne Council first to establish a centre 1970 – 182 centres – 30,000+ members 1985 – 376 centres – 56,000+ members 1986 – 379 centres – 57,000+ members 2012 – 288 centres – 55,000+ members Plus in 2012 an additional: 68,000 members of ethno specific groups & 65,000 people as members of other seniors groups

MAV Survey 75 councils responded (95% response rate) Range of information sought –Number of buildings –Number and type of seniors clubs –Reviews, research, evaluations undertaken –Membership numbers of seniors clubs –Support provided by councils to clubs –Provision of meals to clubs –The issues facing councils around seniors facilities and clubs

Buildings Used by Seniors Clubs TotalMetro CouncilsRural & Regional City Councils No.% % % Dedicated Senior Citizens buildings owned by council 28845%13738%15155% Other council owned facilities used by seniors groups 34755%22162%12645% 100% Total Council owned buildings63558%35852%27769% Buildings not owned by council but used by seniors groups 45142%32748%12431% Totals1,086100%683100%401100%

Seniors Clubs Estimated Number of clubs % of seniors clubs MetroRural Senior Citizens clubs85235%639 (33%)213 (38%) Ethno specific Seniors clubs 73530%713 (38%)22 (4%) Other clubs859*35%538 (29%)321 (58%) Estimated Total %1890 (77%)556 (23%)

Club Membership Estimates for Victoria Estimates – Metro Estimates - Rural Senior citizens clubs55,70042,200 (27%)13,500 (46%) Ethno specific seniors clubs 68,00066,800 (42%)1,200 (4%) Other**65,000*50,000 (31%)14,700 (50%) Total188,700**159,000 (100%)29,400 (100%)

Older people and seniors club membership TotalMetroRural Over 60’s population (ABS Census 2011) 1,055,000728,500326,800 Location of over 60’s in Victoria 69%31% Estimated % of over 60’s as seniors citizen club member 5% 6%4% % of over 60’s as ethno-specific seniors club members 6%9%0.4% % of all other seniors club members 6%7%5% % of over 60’s as members of some type of senior's club 18%22%9%

Council support provided to seniors groups

Support provided by councils

Provision of Meals Frequency of Group Meal Provision Number of Councils (n=35) daily7 about once per week25 about once a fortnight4 about once per month12 special occasions10 rarely7

Provision of Meals

Council review of seniors clubs and centre issues Number of councils% Utilisation and management of seniors clubs 3564% Increasing recreation and social opportunities for a more diverse membership 2953% Meeting regulations and legislative requirements around food handling 2444% Meeting regulations and legislative requirements in relation to disability access 2647% More equitable use of council resources to support seniors groups 2444%

Issues for Councils

Strong interest in a forum to discuss the issue May 17 th tentative date to get some councils together to discuss issues with each other and seniors groups Session to be held at the MAV