Successful Ageing Seminars
Shire of Mundaring, Western Australia
Background
The Shire of Mundaring begins 18kms from Perth on the coastal plain at Midvale, with the hills of the Darling Range as the backdrop. The community's population of 33,400 residents live in 22 separate townships that characterise the Shire.
Initiative
In April 2005, the Shire of Mundaring held a series of Successful Ageing Seminars. The Seminars were chosen by a working party of the Shire of Mundaring Seniors Advisory Committee as a capacity building event for the seniors in the community.
The Seminars, presented by Rhonda Parker of the Positive Ageing Foundation, were conducted over three consecutive weeks. Each seminar promoted successful ageing and provided information and strategies to assist seniors' to age successfully. A key message in each seminar was to debunk the myths associated with ageing and highlight the positive reality to participants through the promotion of a positive life course approach.
The Seminars also provided seniors with an avenue of social engagement, building a positive awareness of seniors and their needs and interests.
Achievements
The Successful Ageing Seminars were "empowering", "instructive", and "supportive" and they provided the senior residents with valuable health and wellbeing information. The Seminars also gave seniors the opportunity to socialise, establish connections with their peers, renew acquaintances and be informed about issues of importance to them.
The response to the Seminars was overwhelming with all events fully booked. Given the positive response the Shire has committed to holding the series again. A similar presentation format, including free refreshments and entry to the seminars, will be utilised. The seminars will be held on a weekday during the afternoon, as this is a different time frame to the one used previously and may allow a different group of residents to attend.
Contact for further information
- Kaye Abel
- Community Development Officer (Seniors and People with Disabilities)
- Shire of Mundaring
- Ph: 08 9290 6628
- Email: kayeabel@mundaring.wa.gov.au
