- 16 organisations share in $220,000 funding through Age-friendly Communities Connectivity Grants Program
- Program encourages age-friendly and positive ageing strategies
- Cook Government committed to fostering age-friendly communities which promote positive ageing and encourage participation in community life
Seniors and Ageing Minister Don Punch has today announced that 16 Western Australian organisations and local governments are sharing in $220,000 funding, through the Cook Government's Age-friendly Communities Grants Program.
The program fosters the development of age-friendly communities, in which people are respected, feel safe and have opportunities for social, cultural and economic participation in community life as they age.
Grants of up to $15,000 have been awarded to local governments and not-for profit organisations to undertake initiatives that build older peoples' connection to community.
This year, for the first time, a second funding stream was made available to help local governments to progress work to join the World Health Organisation's Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities.
This network supports local governments to become age-friendly by connecting them with an international cohort of cities and communities which are committed to building great places to age.
Among the funded projects is a collaborative song story initiative by the City of Albany, which will capture the memories, stories, and music of seniors with a strong intergenerational component.
The Shire of Derby-West Kimberley was awarded funding for the My Kimberley Stories project to collect older residents' stories and create a legacy for their communities through storytelling.
Umbrella Multicultural Services will deliver a project to support community inclusion and enhance social connections, while the Shire of Perenjori will run a series of exercise and social opportunities for isolated seniors.
The Age-friendly Communities Connectivity Grants Program is an initiative under 'An Age-Friendly WA: State Seniors Strategy 2023-2033, Action Plan (2023-2027). It is being administered by Local Government Professionals Australia WA.
As stated by Seniors and Ageing Minister Don Punch:
"Age-friendly communities strengthen community support and increase inclusion to ultimately benefit the whole community.
"People are supported to continue living with meaning, purpose and value.
"The Age-friendly Communities Connectivity Grants Program encourages innovative strategies and pilot projects, to test new ways of achieving age-friendly communities.
"While local governments play a big role, it's also gratifying to see many community organisations receive funding under this program."
