Age Friendly SA

Supporting South Australians to age well

Age friendly communities contribute to people ageing well. The Age Friendly SA Strategy (PDF 2MB) addresses the South Australian Government’s commitment to ensure that services, the community, and the state as a whole, are friendly to all ages.

South Australians are living longer than ever before. In 2016, around 36.8% of South Australia’s population was aged 50 years or over. By 2061, this proportion is expected to increase to over 42%. Our vision is for South Australia to be a place where older people are recognised as valued members of the community and an important resource to society; where people are included in decisions that affect them and supported to lead productive and active lives as they age. South Australia is a great place to live, and age well.

In late 2016, more than 425 older South Australians participated in 50 separate community conversations as part of the State-wide Conversation with Older South Australians. Outcomes from these conversations were captured in the report Outcomes of the State-wide Conversations with Older South Australians (PDF 3.3MB). These conversations shaped the five key priorities of the Age Friendly SA Strategy.

Key priorities

1. Home, Community & Environment: Creating spaces that are inviting and accessible to all ages; encouraging a sense of community, as well as safety, security and independence. Enjoying nature and taking care of the environment for the future.
2. Making a Contribution: Supporting opportunities for the positive contribution, lifelong learning and active participation of older people. Ensuring the voices of older people are sought out and heard.
3. Making it Easier to Get Around: Well-maintained paths for walking and cycling. Reliable and affordable transport, convenient parking, and being able to travel safely around our city and neighbourhoods, are all part of maintaining connection to community and independence.
4. Intergenerational Connectedness: Creating environments and communities that bring together people of all ages and stages of life; promoting strong community connections; building trust; challenging ageism; and creating opportunities for shared activities.
5. Age Friendly Services: Ensuring services are designed and delivered in ways that are inclusive of and respectful to the needs and wants of older people.

Themes

The Strategy also features three broad themes for action: Community Connections; Access and Activity; and Digital Inclusion, which encourage cross-sector partnerships and present significant opportunities to drive the state government’s age friendly work across the five priority areas. This builds on the strong leadership of local Councils, who have been progressing Age friendly neighbourhoods (PDF 4MB) since 2011.

Age friendly services

To assist in achieving priority 5, A Guide to Age Friendly Services has been designed to provide front line service staff with the tools to ensure that older South Australians’ experience of the service they provide is as Age Friendly as possible. It also aims to assist organisations to be inclusive of, and accessible to, older people. Visit the webpage to understand what older people are looking for in their customer service experience, and some tips and tricks for improving your service.

A number of early action projects included the establishment of an Age Friendly SA Grant Round, now providing grants of up to $60,000 to deliver projects that contribute to an age friendly South Australia.

2018/19 Age Friendly SA Grant recipients

Community transport project for isolated frail community members who currently “fall through the gaps”

Adelaide Hills Council

This project has developed transport options within existing networks and resources, focussing on older people who are isolated, vulnerable or at risk, to increase their connections with their community and engage in meaningful activities. This project established a network of trained volunteers to create opportunities for people to make valued community contributions, and support access to important information, supports and services.

Immersive Storytelling project

City of Mount Gambier

This project engaged with older local residents in sharing their memories and stories about living in Mount Gambier, and together with images and historical photographs, develop the Mount Gambier Immersive Stories Virtual Tool. The virtual tool raises awareness of Mount Gambier’s sites of personal and historical significance with the broader community, while also increasing access to these sites for people who are unable to do so for a range of reasons.

Green Gym – Creating Wellbeing through Ecotherapy project.

District Council of Yankalilla

This project establishes an extensive community volunteer program partnering with a range of organisations to co-design environmental projects and activities for the benefit of the whole district.

The project introduced activities to enhance the district’s natural environment and conservation, and foster increased wellbeing and fitness for its participants. For volunteers, the project provided opportunities for contributions and lifelong learning, helping break down stereotypes through shared intergenerational activities.

Your Life - Your Say project

Port Pirie Regional Council

This multi-partnership project delivers an extensive ‘Your Life-Your Say’ community education program to raise awareness about safeguarding rights and promoting the wellbeing of older people, while also teaching digital skills valuable for everyday life. The project aims to increase the use of and completion of important tools for older people and their families, to safeguard their wishes and interests such as advance care directives.

The Changing Faces of Campbelltown - multicultural video project

City of Campbelltown

This project promotes the inclusion and value of a diverse older population by capturing the richness of an intergenerational multicultural community through interviewing older people and engaging younger people from diverse backgrounds.

Fish Feeders SA project

City of Onkaparinga, City of Marion, City of Holdfast Bay, City of Charles Sturt, City of West Torrens, City of Port Adelaide Enfield

This regional partnership established a social connection program that engages older people from over six councils, including men’s shed participants, through activities and shared learning focused on fishing, and other opportunities for ageing well.

Prospect Singing Group project

City of Prospect

This project established a local Community Choir for older people to connect with others who share a love of singing. The project provides participants with singing skills, opportunities to perform, and lifelong learning.

Co-housing for Ageing Well project

City of Unley, Town of Walkerville, City of Burnside, City of Prospect

In partnership with the University of South Australia, this four-council regional project undertook co-housing design studies to investigate and propose new, alternative housing options for older people to age in place, and align opportunities and proposed recommendations with local and state government requirements.

Contact

For further information, including Age Friendly SA promotional material and resources, contact Office for Ageing Well:

Email: officeforageingwell@sa.gov.au

Telephone: (08) 8204 2420
Postal address: PO Box 196 Rundle Mall Adelaide SA 5000