1. A Centre of Excellence for Ageing
Great Lakes Council
A Centre of Excellence for Ageing

2. The Great Lakes Where are we? What does our LGA look like?
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 residents
Population density – people/hectare
Small towns, farms, national parks, forestry

3. Our demographics
Age Group (years)

4. Our aged population
Age Group (years)

5. Council’s response
The 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

6. First steps
Partner 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

7. How we did it Used the WHO AFCC framework and processes
Focus groups in Bulahdelah, Stroud, Tea Gardens, Forster
Older people, service providers, businesses, staff
Survey
Respondents aged 50+

8. Key issues from Focus Groups

9. Survey: age-friendliness rating

10. Challenges
Two of the top three issues are not Council’s responsibility
How to include this in the Strategy

11. Where are we up to? Active Ageing Strategy adopted by Council
Shift the way society thinks about ageing:
Medical model
Social
model
illness incapacity care
inclusion participation contribution

12. Where are we up to? continued
Application made to WHO for membership to Global Network of Age-friendly Cities & Communities
Advertising for EOI for Community Reference Group
Photo: courtesy Great Lakes Advocate

13. What’s next? Continue with establishment of Community Reference Group
Seek funding to implement actions
Current funding applications with DSS – Healthy Ageing, LGNSW – Creative Ageing, Seniors Week
Continuing education – change of culture
Other Council sections
Community