Positive AgeingAmbassador Program

The aim of the project is to maximise the involvement

of older people in generating projects

that will make a positive difference to the quality of life,

participation, health and well-being

of older people.

Council recruited 12 ambassadors from small towns and communities throughout the Colac Otway Shire

to talk with their friends and community members

on how best to develop projects to benefit older people.

“This project is important

as it will build on what the

community said when Council developed its

Positive Ageing Strategy”

The Approach

“There are assets and gifts in communities

and our job as good servants and as good leaders is having the ability

to recognise those gifts in others and help them put those into action.”

Michele Obama

“leadership is about helping people find their voice”

We are trained to ask; “What’s wrong and how do we fix it?”

Instead start by asking “What works, what have we got,what’s possible and who cares?”

Peter Kenyon

The Ambassadors are as diverse as the communities and landscapes

of the Colac Otway Shire.A key learning when working with such a diverse group is that any workshops or learning process

must allow for flexibility and a huge range of skills and experiences at the table.

Allowing a flexible process removes barriers to participation and ensures an accessible process.

“Citizenship is the choice to make a difference to the place

where you belong”

Charles Handy

“My heart is in Forrest and I have recently built a new house in the town.

My interests are gardening, woodwork, fishing and hunting.

I have recently become my father’s carer.”

Geoff SpeirsAmbassador

“I look forward to the consultation process looking at ways to make life better for older people and hope this process will have benefits for me personally as well as for people in my local communities.”

Jenny LangAmbassador

The Overnight Retreat

Although some of the Ambassadors I already vaguely knew, learning what

skills, strengths and attributes they would bring to the project

and how we would fare in mutual support was very much an unknown at that point.

“Further workshops were held after the retreat where we developed techniques for interviews, information collection and exchange of ideas …

…this further strengthened the resolve and commitment of the volunteers..”

The Workshop Series

“.. it is interesting to note that there is such a high rate of support for the success of this project among participants. “

Tony GroganAmbassador

 

The Consultation

Ambassadors facilitated

a series of workshops, conversations and

interviews in the smaller townships

to generate community

based ideas.

“What most

people need

is a good

listening to”

Mary Lou Casey

What makes your community a great place to live in?What would make life better?

Positive Ageing...the Age to be...

ValuedInvolved

ProductiveActive

Consumer WiseCared For

Colac Otway Shire Positive Ageing Ambassador Program

Please add your thoughts to the reverse of this card to assist us in developing our local Ambassador Projects.

“In the past few weeks I have interviewed over 300 people and explained what ILOP and we are on about.

My reflection is that about 70% of people were happy as things are. Of course these are the people that are out and about. What about the people who are confined to their home or don’t go out? People lose confidence.”

Betty HarrisAmbassador

The Priorities• Seating / Pathways / Lighting

• Transport

• Social Connections

• Information

• Succession planning in community organisations

• Links and networks between community and service providers

• Managing change in small rural communities

The Projects

Ambassadors, each in partnership with a

community organisation, are working within their communities to develop

local projects.

Decision Making“Never doubt that a

small group of

thoughtful,

committed citizens

can change the

world.

Indeed it is the only

thing that ever has”

Margaret Mead

A key part of the process developed was the agreement that

Ambassadors should endorse each other’s projects through a group

process.

It is important to note that this is a cornerstone of ensuring that the

overall project is based upon participant ownership of the

decision making process.

Ambassador Projects• Women’s Art Studio Proposal

• SHARPS Program(Socially, Healthy, Active, Resilient, Productive Seniors)

• Multi Use Recreation Facility at Wye River• Access, Mobility and Infrastructure • Supporting local historical events• Intergenerational schools program• Seating in Colac and Apollo Bay

• First Aid Training• Transport Working Group• Contributing to existing

Information and Social Inclusion programs

The SHARPS Project Ambassador Jan Healey has

chosen to allocate $2000 of her project money towards the

development of this project. ILOP Ambassadors endorsed

this choice.

She has been working on her own plan for positive ageing. At 64 she believes she still has

much to contribute.

Jan has submitted an application for funding to the

PAtCE Program so that she can develop a program that can be

replicated in other rural communities.

Participants will

explore opportunities

within their local area

and online and match

with their own skills

and aspirations to

develop a plan for

active engagement in

their local community.

Social

Healthy

Active

Resilient

Productive

Seniors

• Ambassador projects• Community transport

• Active transport• Public Health & Wellbeing Plan

• Positive Ageing Strategy• Community conversations

• Supporting celebrations and festivals• Seeking and Providing community wisdom

Where to from Here?