Next session dates: July 2, 9, 16 & 23
Time: 9:30am – 3pm

Booking is closed

How can we make it a reality? Dr Kalache will present an overview of the value and practical application of Age Friendly Communities. This will be followed by a workshop on how we as older people and members of organisations, can come together to work towards an Age Friendly Victoria. Download flyer.

Dr Alex Kalache is the Director of the International Centre for Policies on Ageing in Brazil and is Resident Thinker for South Australian Government among other things. He was previously the Director of Ageing and Life Course at World Health Organisation and creator of the Age Friendly Communities concept.

Please note: To ensure people from across Victoria we are asking that you limit the number of people from one organisation to only two or three people.

1. Braeside Park (Springvale), 10am to 12pm, Mondays from 7 May to 2 July, Meet at 24 hour car park

2. Karkarook Park (Moorabbin) , 10am to 12pm, Tuesdays from 8 May to 3 July, Meet at Dragonfly car park

This course is fully booked. Please book the next course in July.  Program details and booking for July course. 

“This study debunks the myths and challenges stereotypes about older people and limitations to their activity online,” said Sue Hendy, Chief Executive Officer, Council of the Ageing (COTA) Victoria. “While not all older community members are active on social media platforms, there is now a significant population of older people active on web-based platforms.”

Surveying 174 Victorians aged over 55, the study tested activities and behaviours, including use of web 2.0 tools and services such as social media.

• Over 35% of older Victorians engaged not only with friends and family on social media platforms, but organisations and strangers with shared interests.
• The 65-75 age group had the most even spread of stakeholder interactions on social media, interacting with family (68.6%), friends (66.6%), organisations (45.9%) and products (22.9%).
• Two thirds Victorians over the age of 85 perform online banking and over 50% of 65 to 85 year olds book accommodation on line.
• Of note was the importance of engaging with people of shared interest online, with over 20% of 75-85 age group social media users interacting around their hobbies.

“The common perception of older people not using the internet, unable to use technology and being too afraid of fraudulent activity to shop or interact with others online is clearly being challenged,” said Kate Crawshaw, Director of Engagement at Ellis Jones.

“Many older people enjoy and feel empowered by their ability to communicate online and clearly possess the skills to perform relatively complex activities such as banking.”

“With just under 1.4 million Victorians over the age of 55, companies and healthcare providers that assume older people are not active online are at the very least squandering opportunity and at worst creating barriers to participation,” said Ms Crawshaw.

The study results are good news for the commonwealth government as it rolls out the national broadband network and government 2.0 strategies to deliver healthcare, education and other services online. Importantly, it opens the door to greater engagement with older people to understand their concerns.

Social integration is critical for the overall wellbeing of older people who are more prone to social exclusion due to decreased mobility and increased ill health. There are significant benefits in the ability for those with reduced mobility to connect and communicate with people within their pre-existing social group and others with shared interests.

Ms Hendy will present the report to the International Federation of Ageing, 11^th Global Conference on Ageing in Prague on 28th May, 2012.

Get online and share your thoughts here >>

Download the full report here.