Creating Age-Friendly

Communities in

Western Australia

- a case for shared outcomes

Western Australia – 2012

• 2.9 million people;

• 2.5 million km;

• 17% seniors (60 +); and

• 2041 - 25%. Seniors

• Metropolitan 73%;

• Non-metropolitan 27%;

• 50 % born overseas;

• Non-English speaking background 18%; and

• Lone households 23%.

City of Melville

• 102,000 residents;

• 18 suburbs/neighbourhoods

• 21% population over 60 yrs ;

• Lone persons households – 27%

by 2021;

• 32% population born overseas

(18% non-English speaking); and

• 82% residents feel a sense of

belonging.

Definition of Age-Friendly Communities

“An age-friendly community is an inclusive and accessible

environment that promotes active ageing”.

Reference: WHO Global Network of Age-Friendly Cities 2009

What makes a Community Age-Friendly?

In an age-friendly community,

policies, services, settings and

structures support and enable

people to age actively.

Background to Age-Friendly Cities Framework

• Partnership between State and Local Government.

• Initial World Health Organisation pilot 2006/2007 Age-

Friendly Cities project.

• 2007 WHO - Global Guide to Age-Friendly Cities (and

Indicators).

• City of Melville - World Health Organisation Global

Network of Age-Friendly Cities (2009 – 2013).

• Development of shared outcome approach between

State and Local governments to develop age-friendly

communities.

Shared Methodology

• Based on the Vancouver Protocol (WHO Age-Friendly Cities

project).

• WHO Checklist of Essential Features of Age-Friendly Cities.

• Used the eight domains identified in the WHO Age-Friendly

Cities project.

• Reference Group model to steer project (local government staff,

community members).

• Bottom up, participatory approach that involved older people

being engaged in process.

• Surveys, workshops, focus groups, one-on-one interviews.

Domains

• Outdoor spaces and Buildings

• Transport

• Housing

• Social Participation

• Respect and Inclusion

• Civic Participation and Employment

• Communication and Information

• Community Support and Health Services

Focus group participants recruited from:

• Public housing tenants.

• Hearing impaired community.

• Chinese/Asian Community Groups.

• Indigenous people.

• Different income levels

• Caravan Park residents (trailer homes) “Grey Nomads”

• Service providers / Carers

• Single gender groups.

• Socially isolated groups – Meals on Wheels recipients.

Indigenous engagement

• Collecting information via

culturally aware processes.

• Art workshops facilitated by

Aboriginal people to gather

information over 16 week

period.

• Informal story telling sessions

to gather information.

Current status

• 27 local governments (communities) funded by State

Department for Communities to use age-friendly approach.

• Includes 13 metropolitan/city environments and 14 rural

communities.

• 33% of the total seniors population in Western Australian

are living in communities that have adopted age-friendly

approach to strategic planning.

• Of total number seniors in metropolitan Perth 42% live in

age-friendly communities but of total living in rural/regional

communities only 8% live in age-friendly communities.

Non-metropolitan local governments • City of Mandurah

• Shire of Augusta/Margaret River

• Shire of Busselton

• Shire of Capel

• Shire of Carnarvon

• Shire of Denmark

• Shire of Dumbleyung

• Shire of Lake Grace

• Shire of Moora

• Shire of Nannup

• Shire of Wagin

• Shire of West Arthur

• Shire of Woodanilling

• Shire of Williams

(14)

• City of Bayswater

• City of Cockburn

• City of Fremantle

• City of Melville

• City of Perth

• City of Rockingham

• City of Subiaco

• City of Swan

• Town of Kwinana

• Town of Mosman Park

• Town of Claremont

• Shire of Peppermint Grove

• Town of Cottesloe

Metropolitan local governments (13)

Initial findings – Western Australia

Rural communities:

- Need for further consultation;

- Footpath upgrades;

- Lack of community transport;

- Access issues highlighted;

- Lack of appropriate aged housing options; and

- Lack of forward planning by seniors for future options –

“wait and see”.

Initial Findings - Indigenous

• Breakdown of traditional culture (breakdown of respect

for elders in decision making processes);

• Lack of appropriate accommodation – sense of loss to

their country if forced to move for health support;

• Lack of health support (dialysis service support in

rural/remote communities); and

• Impact of racism

• “We love Carnarvon, we want to stay. The thought of having to move for health reasons is traumatic” (member of Senior Citizens Club).

• “Having to fly to Perth and negotiate the hospital system when old and frail is enough to make you sick” (participant Carnarvon)

Initial findings

Urban Communities:

- Challenges of transient population (visiting Perth City);

- Challenges of integration of actions to City planning;

- Desire for focus on intergenerational projects;

- Sustainability of actions;

- Shared concerns relating to housing, transport, and

health services; and

- Lack of forward planning by seniors for future options.

Initial findings - overall

• Positive feedback regarding current senior initiatives

(free public transport, fuel cards for those living in the

remote/rural areas, dependable public transport).

• Sense of connection to current local neighbourhoods.

• Highest domain rating for “Respect and Inclusion”.

• Importance of volunteering to feeling valued.

• Importance of local libraries for places of information.

• "I am impressed with this project. Older people have a

wealth of life experiences and abilities. With this project

we can feel useful, feel required and feel we are not lost

or forgotten”( City of Swan participant).

Limitations

• Low representation of carers, indigenous people, and

those from non-English speaking backgrounds.

• Over-representation of women.

• Lack of visitor and / or worker profile.

• Low representation of service providers.

• Low representation of marginalised people.

• Methodology favours those connected in communities.

How is information used?

• State - analysis of significant

trends; advocacy role across

government.

• Local - incorporated into

strategic plans for ageing

populations - development of

specific local actions to respond

to areas of priorities (further

specific plans).

Benefits of Age-Friendly Cities Approach

• Participants have heightened sense of being valued.

• Shared research model.

• Credible and evidence-based input to strategic planning for

older people.

• Development of co-ordinated approach with State and

Local governments for planning for demographic change.

• Engages seniors for next phases of consultations.

• Benefits all community.

www.melvillecity.com.au

• Age-Friendly Melville – Directions from Seniors

www.communities.wa.gov.au

• Western Australian Seniors Well-Being Indicators

• Age-Friendly Communities: Collective Examination

(June 2012)

christine.young@melville.wa.gov.au