Speeches: 2004
Developing local level responses to healthy ageing
At the national level, ALGA is working with the Australian Government to develop and implement the Australian local government population ageing action plan to run over the next four years. The plan provides a framework in which local government can anticipate and respond to the ageing related issues that affect local communities.
Address to National Public Health Partnership Group meeting
Mr Ian Chalmers
Chief Executive, Australian Local Government Association
9 July 2004: Adelaide
Introduction
Thank you for the invitation to talk about local government's healthy ageing initiatives. I thought it important to inform members about local government activities, given the development of the Public health action plan for an ageing Australia.
In the time available to me, I'd like to:
First, make some general comments on the projected population ageing in local communities.
Second, mention some of the opportunities and challenges facing local government in the delivery of public health services in light of an ageing population.
Third, point to the unique position of local government in responding to these opportunities and challenges.
Fourth, I'd like to highlight local government initiatives that are aimed at improving the health and well-being of older people in local communities.
And I'd like to finish by outlining the whole-of-local government response to population ageing - in particular our forward agenda on healthy ageing.
Demographic change
You don't need me to tell you, older people are a significant and growing part of local communities. Demographers tell us that older populations will continue to be concentrated in local government areas that are located along the Australia coastline - particularly in Queensland.
By 2019, the local government area with the oldest population in Australia is expected to be Bribie Island, Queensland. Around 37% of its residents are expected to be aged 65 years and over. This is an increase of 9% from current levels, and almost 20% higher than the projected national average.
Bilinga, in Queensland, will maintain its place as the nation's second oldest local government area with 35% of residents in this age cohort by 2019. And Victor Harbour, in South Australia, will have 33% of its population aged 65 and above, making it the third oldest LGA.
In total, it is expected that by 2019, one in eight local government areas will have at least 25% of their population aged 65 years and over. At an ALGA level we are acutely aware that this will have significant implications for local government.
Opportunities and challenges
Population ageing presents important opportunities for local government. Older people offer rich life experience, well-honed skills, knowledge and wisdom. These qualities significantly contribute to the social fabric of local communities. Specifically, many older people make a major contribution to local communities by being involved in voluntary work.
Volunteering also adds value to the services that local councils provide. But population ageing will also present significant challenges for Australia's 675 councils. We can expect increasing demand for public health services in the areas of mental health, falls prevention, health promotion, healthy eating, mobility and exercise, immunisation, food surveillance, and aged care.
There are also significant implications for the way local government goes about its work in areas such as community safety, urban design and planning, and public open space management. You would recognise the significance convergence between our concerns and those of the National Public Health Partnership (NPHP).
But it is important to note two things:
- this additional demand comes at a time when local government is already under considerable financial pressure
- that many of these functions are not historically local government functions.
The extent of additional demand was highlighted in the 2003 State of the Regions report which investigated implications for local government of our ageing population. The report, commissioned from National Economics by ALGA, found that much of local government could face serious budgetary pressure as it struggles to keep pace with increasing demand for human services while attempting to maintain and develop traditional, property-based services, such as road and infrastructure maintenance, waste and water management.
Unique position of local government
The ageing of the population poses significant policy challenges for local government. But local government is uniquely positioned to positively impact on the health and well-being of older Australians.
Local government:
- has an intimate knowledge of the local community and identification of the diversity of older people
- ensures the physical, social and economic environment of the local community is conducive to the overall wellbeing of older people
- provides services and programs that are flexible and locally appropriate to the needs of older people.
- enables community participation in local decision-making and supports development of community networks
- is a strong advocate for the local community in its dealings with other spheres of government as well as non-government organisations
These community-focused roles entrench local government's relationship with older people in the community. This reinforces our ability to recognise, understand and respond to the health needs of the growing cohort of older residents.
Local level responses
Throughout Australia, councils have begun to respond in a variety of ways.
Nullumbik Shire Council in Victoria - for example - last year won the inaugural Planning for an ageing community award - for its Homewise kit.
The kit, part of Nullumbik's Older persons health promotion program: Aging in your home project, provides a range of helpful hints and considerations for builders and residents to make their home design more age-friendly, and enhance the ability of older people to live independently, in their place of choice, for longer.
In NSW, Sutherland Shire Council has developed the Sizzling seniors program. This program incorporates more than 30 classes a week across three leisure centres and now attracts more than 10,000 visits a year, averaging 16 participants a class. Recognising the ongoing demographic growth in the older age market, Sutherland Shire Leisure Centres is committed to the ongoing expansion of this program.
Also in NSW, Lane Cove Council has developed Nutritious microwave cooking classes for seniors, targeting seniors at risk of social isolation. The program aims to help maintain the independence of older people and keep them in their homes as long as possible.
And Brisbane City Council's Growing old and living dangerously program - GOLD for short - is a popular program for people over 50, offering a range of activities from yachting, rock-climbing and bushwalking, to safely surfing the internet.
State local government associations have also started to develop their own responses. The Local Government Association of Tasmania has agreed to enter a Partnership agreement for positive ageing with the Australian and Tasmanian governments.
Some of the outcomes being sought from the Partnership agreement include better planning and delivery of services for older people and improved access to and sharing of information for planning purposes.
It is anticipated that the Partnership agreement will be signed by the three parties within the next 12 months. Once signed, the agreement will be the first of its kind in Australia. And the Municipal Association of Victoria is currently developing a proposal to progress positive ageing strategies in partnership with the Victorian Government and the Council on the Ageing.
An Australian local government approach
At the national level, ALGA is working with the Australian Government to develop and implement the Australian local government population ageing action plan to run over the next four years.
This plan is the first step in a four year partnership between ALGA and the Australian Department of Health and Ageing to engage local government in a planned and coordinated national approach to population ageing issues. The plan provides a framework in which local government can anticipate and respond to the ageing related issues that affect local communities.
It is designed to provide a flexible and dynamic framework that:
- builds awareness of population ageing within local government
- encourages local government action to plan for an ageing population
- fosters partnerships to support a more collaborative approach to population ageing
- improves access to regional information on population ageing and future demographic shifts
Within each of these priority areas, a number of practical actions have been identified.
These include:- A website that promotes the Local government ageing project and provides relevant information resources for local government.
- A toolbox that provides local government with the tools, resources and contacts to integrate ageing issues into all aspects of local government operations.
- Establishment of a local government positive ageing network that allows subscribers to exchange and share experiences, information, questions and comments about ageing issues.
Of course, the plan complements other national ageing strategies, such as the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia. It also builds on the considerable work already undertaken in the states and territories. We are - we believe - well-placed to begin the next phase - making the action plan work for local councils.
The forward agenda on healthy ageing
Although the emphasis of the plan focuses on population ageing, it makes a number of links to healthy ageing. The plan focuses on building the capacity of local government to develop local level responses to healthy ageing. It does this in a number of ways.
First, it encourages local government to develop healthy ageing strategies and plans. Including the health and wellbeing needs of older people into our planning process is a complex task that involves understanding the linkages between a wide range of activities, organisations and interests. ALGA will support councils to develop healthy ageing plans through workshops, toolkits, and an online resource centre.
Encouraging councils to adopt of a whole-of-council approach can promote better integration and co-ordination of planning effort and maximise available resources and expertise through improved cooperation. This will lead to better public health services and improved, more relevant facilities for older people.
Second, the plan supports councils in the development of health promotion initiatives. Local government views illness and accident prevention and health promotion as fundamental components of an effective and sustainable local health system.
Health promotion activities for older people encourage them to exercise regularly, eat well, develop and maintain social networks and access activities in their local community. Local level health promotion also has the potential to reduce the health and care costs of older people. In response, many councils are already increasingly involved in the provision of health promotion programs.
ALGA will encourage this trend by fostering partnerships with health promotion advocates, developing information kits and disseminating case studies.
Finally, the plan will help improve access to information on the demographics, health status and service requirements of older people. It is vital that local government is aware of and properly understands the needs of older people within its communities. Without knowledge and information it is difficult to anticipate and respond to the issues affecting older people.
Access to research, information, data and innovative practice will be important in creating a stronger evidence base to inform local government policy development and guide local government's response to healthy ageing. ALGA will support this action area through the development of a web-based information clearing house and publication of a research journal and innovative practice guide.
Building links with NPHP
To ensure the successful implementation of these healthy ageing initiatives, ALGA will need to foster partnerships to support a more collaborative approach to healthy ageing.
The actions of an individual council to promote healthy ageing will only make a long term contribution if they are integrated with work of other organisations and governments. We need value-adding partnerships with public health organisations, not least because many of the determinants of health are outside the control of local government.
An example where local government can become actively involved in the work of NPHP is through the implementation of the Public health action plan for an ageing Australia. Partnerships will help with the development and maintenance of local physical environments, physical activity programs and support systems to help older people to be physically active.
Conclusion
We need to get this right. The action plan sets a new direction for local government in supporting the health and well-being of older people. Local government is keen to work closely with NPHP. By working together, local councils will not only meet the challenges of population ageing, but be stronger as a result.
I would welcome your views on the draft action plan.
Thank you
Ian Chalmers
9 July 2004
Adelaide
