The City of Albany in Western Australia has hosted the first regional meeting of the Age-Friendly Communities Network.
The network includes members from local governments, State Government agencies, Council on the Ageing, the aged care sector and those with an interest in age-friendly communities.
Coordinated by the Local Government Managers Australia WA branch, the network meets several times a year and the City of Albany played host to the Age-Friendly Communities Regional Development Day last month.
“Hosting the Age-Friendly Communities Network gives an opportunity to showcase the progress made by Great Southern councils in becoming more age-friendly,” said Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington.
“Highlighting that progress is Albany City Council’s recent adoption of the Age-Friendly Albany Plan 2016-2020 which provides a framework for the City to become a more inclusive and welcoming environment for older people by recognising the trends and needs of our ageing population.”
Keynote speakers included Gregg Harwood, Director of Community and Regulatory Services at the Shire of Denmark, who presented on his Shire’s experience as an age-friendly community, while City of Albany Community Development Officer Rani Param also spoke about Albany’s plan.
Althea Gordon from Alzheimer’s WA spoke about its partnerships with local government, specifically highlighting a Dementia-Friendly Communities pilot program at Albany Public Library.
