We have developed a submission to tell the Government what needs to be funded in the next state budget to help meet the needs of older Victorians. Now it’s your turn to get involved! The budget won’t be handed down until May next year, so we have plenty of time to lobby for change. You can help by doing one or both of the following:

1. Contacting your State MP and asking them to ensure the matters of importance to you are prioritised in the next state budget. If you aren’t sure where to start, we recommend you take a look at our guide on how to arrange a meeting with an MP.
2. Contacting the State Minister who is responsible for the focus area you are concerned about and requesting that they ensure that the issue is addressed through the next state budget.

Our submission is broken up into the following six focus areas. We have included the relevant recommendations from our submission under these focus areas, as well as the contact details for each of the relevant Ministers.

Focus area 1: Enhancing social wellbeing and community connection

Almost half of older Victorians surveyed stated that social isolation and loneliness had been a key source of concern for them during COVID-19. To help older people reengage with their communities and prevent social isolation and loneliness as we learn to live with COVID-19, we are asking the Government to:

1. Provide funding for a diverse range of services to facilitate social connection and peer support for older people, including:

• Continued funding for locally-based mental health services that provide wellbeing checks and counselling to respond to the psychological impacts of COVID-19
• Additional funding to enable local councils to facilitate social activities for older residents. These activities must be available to older Victorians living in residential care as well as those living in the community
• Expanded funding for community groups and clubs that facilitate social activities, ongoing learning and volunteering opportunities for older people; including University of the Third Age, seniors’ clubs, arts and music-based groups, Men’s Sheds, Older Men: New Ideas discussion groups, and community groups that support seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

2. Establish a dedicated function within The Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions to provide assistance to support the administration and sustainability of volunteer-led community groups and clubs.

Relevant Minister –

The Hon. Anthony Carbines, Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers

Phone: (03) 9457 5328

Email: anthony.carbines@parliament.vic.gov.au

Focus area 2: Improving the health and mobility of older Victorians

Many older people have experienced a decline in their physical health and mobility during COVID-19 as a result of not being able to engage in their regular exercise programs. Oral health is another area that requires significant attention. While access to free or low cost dental services was already lacking prior to the pandemic, the situation has now worsened as a result of preventative or maintenance-based treatments not being permitted during lockdown. To address these issues, we are asking the Victorian Government to:

1. Invest in tailored support to assist older people to re-engage in physical activities as they learn to live with COVID-19, such as:

• Awareness raising activities that inform people about the process of accessing subsidised Exercise Physiology or Physiotherapy appointments under the Enhanced Primary Care Program
• Financial support to help older Victorians on low incomes to cover gap payments when accessing Exercise Physiology or physiotherapy services under the Enhanced Primary Care Program
• Free clinics within locally based community health services to provide advice on how to safely re-engage in physical activity. These clinics should be staffed by exercise physiologists, physiotherapists and/or personal trainers with expertise in the needs of older people, such as those who have completed training through COTA Victoria’s Living Longer Living Stronger program
• Free or subsidised travel to assist older people on low incomes to attend appointments with an exercise physiologist, physiotherapist or personal trainer.

2. Improve access to oral health care for older Victorians by:

• Increasing funding to Dental Health Services Victoria to reduce wait times and improve access to free and low-cost dental care for older people living in the community
• Funding a mobile dental service to provide oral health care to older Victorians living in residential aged care.

Relevant Minister –

The Hon. Martin Foley, Minister for Health

Phone: (03) 9096 8561

Email: minister.health@dhhs.vic.gov.au

Focus area 3: Assisting older Victorians to get where they need to go

We continue to work with the Victorian Government to improve the accessibility of public transport in accordance with Victoria’s Transport Accessibility Action Plan 2020-24. Right now, though, there are a range of older Victorians for whom public transport is not a suitable option. As such, we are asking the Victorian Government to:

1. Fund the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to establish a thoroughly costed, community-based transport program to support older Victorians experiencing transport disadvantage. This program must:

• Be properly funded to ensure effective resourcing and coordination and must not rely solely on existing infrastructure
• Be regulated by the Department of Transport
• Be available to older people living in residential care as well as those living in the community
• Establish consistent eligibility criteria and service fees for older people across all geographic regions
• Effectively service older people living in regional and rural areas.

2. Expand the Multi Purpose Taxi Program to provide support to Victorian seniors who:

• have failed a fitness-to-drive test or have surrendered their driver’s license to VicRoads, and
• possess a Centrelink issued concession card or health care card.

Relevant Minister –

The Hon. Ben Carroll, Minister for Transport

Phone: (03) 9095 4301

Email: ben.carroll@parliament.vic.gov.au

Focus area 4: Improving digital inclusion and access to information

An increasing number of services are transitioning to a digital only environment, and we are mindful of the fact that many older people are being left behind. As such, we are asking the Victorian Government to:

1. Invest in a range of well-coordinated services to facilitate digital inclusion and alternative access to information for older Victorians, including:

• Ongoing funding for a dedicated telephone line that provides information, support and referrals for older Victorians
• Additional funding to enable local libraries and neighbourhood centres to facilitate access to information and online services
• Dedicated funding to enable community groups to enhance digital confidence among older constituents, with a focus on the needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

2. Require all Government Departments and Statutory Authorities to implement a communication strategy that outlines how they will provide equitable access to information and services for people who are digitally excluded.

Relevant Minister –

The Hon. Anthony Carbines, Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers

Phone: (03) 9457 5328

Email: anthony.carbines@parliament.vic.gov.au

Focus area 5: Expanding opportunities for older people to participate in the workforce

Many older people continue to be unfairly excluded from paid employment due to systemic ageism. In acknowledgement of this fact, we are asking the Victorian Government to:

1. Provide additional funding to Jobs Victoria and their local partners to enable them to increase the workforce participation of older Victorians. This will require a range of localised, wrap-around supports, including:

• Support to return to education
• career guidance, mentoring and peer support
• Assistance with resume writing, interview techniques and understanding the employment market
• Specialised training to enhance digital literacy
• Assistance with student and employment placements
• Financial counselling
• Mental health and wellbeing support.

2. Invest in a specialised program to retrain unemployed older people who are interested in filling identified workforce gaps in growth industries, particularly aged and disability care.

Relevant minister –

The Hon. Jaala Pulford, Minister for Employment

Phone: (03) 8392 6006

Email: jaala.pulford@parliament.vic.gov.au

Focus area 6: Supporting people who have experienced or are at risk of elder abuse

Elder abuse is a recognised form of family violence that requires specific attention. The emergence of COVID-19 has also increased a number of known risk factors for abuse – particularly financial abuse. As such, we are asking the Government to:

1. Provide dedicated funding to facilitate the state-wide expansion of the Integrated Model of Care and Elder Abuse Prevention Netw These programs must target vulnerable communities including people with disability and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
2. Invest in initiatives to safeguard older people from financial abuse in acknowledgement of the increased risks imposed by COVID-19, including:

• Community awareness and education initiatives to inform people about the risks and safeguarding measures associated with providing intergenerational financial support to family members
• The availability of financial counselling and tools for older Victorians who are considering providing financial support to younger family members.

Relevant Minister –

Ms Gabrielle Williams, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence

Phone: (03) 9096 8587

Email: gabrielle.williams@parliament.vic.gov.au