Australia’s population is ageing. In 1997, Australians aged over 45 made up almost one third of our population, and working on current trends this proportion will escalate over the next decade.
This trend presents a challenge for many. For those marketing products and providing services to our population, there is a need to understand and meet the needs of this changing population. Physical activity, and the concept of Active Ageing, has been a focus in Australia in 1999 with the development of the Active Australia International Year of Older Persons project.
The project is a joint initiative of the Australian Sports Commission, Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Health and Aged Care. It aims to promote the benefits of physical activity to older Australians as well as providing additional physical activity options.
It also makes a valuable contribution to Active Australia &endash; the national initiative aimed at getting more Australians physically active.
In the area of physical activity, there is a great deal that Councils can do to support and assist older members of the community including the following.
- Promoting physical activity programs and options in Council publications and at libraries and community centres
- Coordinating activity programs specifically targeting older members of the community
- Researching the physical activity needs and wants of older constituents
- Supporting and assisting local clubs and organisations to offer programs for older Australians
- Recognising organisations which offer good programs for older members of the community
- Bringing together seniors groups and physical activity providers to discuss program options and requirements
Many Councils have already accepted this challenge and have adopted programs and activities which are making a real difference in the lives of older Australians.
These include the Brisbane City Council’s Growing Old and Living Dangerously program, and Mildura Rural Council’s Good Sports are Ageless project profiled in the Australian Sports Commission’s Actively Ageing publication.
In looking at physical activity needs of older Australians, it is clear that there are a number of really good projects happening at local level, whether initiated by sport and recreation officers, community service or development officers, or by individual organisations within the community.
The first edition of Actively Ageing was developed for Councils, seniors groups and sport and recreation organisations to assist with the sharing of good practice in this area. It received a very enthusiastic response, and a second edition which profiles additional projects will be available in early August.
To obtain a copy, contact the Australian Sports Commission on phone (02) 6214 1915, fax (02) 6214 1995, or email pubs@ausport.gov.au
