Community Meals for Older Women - Adopt a Friend - incorporating Gamblers Tales
Rural City of Wangaratta, Victoria
Background
Research undertaken by the Rural City of Wangaratta showed that older women and women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds were visiting gambling venues to fill the need of being involved in an activity in an accepting environment. Moreover, the Rural City of Wangaratta, like most of regional Victoria, is experiencing an increase in the average age of its population. Currently 10% of the population of Central Hume is aged 70 years, 1.6% aged over 84 years.
Initiative
The Community Meals for Older Women - Adopt a Friend has a principal focus on older women, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The project targets the need to provide an alternative, accepting environment for women at risk of becoming gamblers with alternative social and recreational activities.
The format for each community meal involves exercise, a guest speaker, live theatre and music and also a two course meal in a social setting. Over the past 12 months speakers have covered topics including: wellbeing, support services, finance, volunteering, caring and falls prevention.
Achievements
The project has exceeded all expectations. For the first community meal, the Council anticipated 150 participants - 230 attended. Subsequent events have been a "sell out" and yet only one promotional campaign has been engaged. The popularity of the program is highlighted when ticket sales are fully booked within two days of going on sale. Participants experience a range of benefits including a nutritious meal, social interaction, exercise, education and community connectedness.
The project has also been extremely successful through the development of partnerships with Department of Justice, The Centre for Continuing Education, Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (GoTAFE), Ovens & King Community Health, North East Health, Gamblers Help North East and many smaller agencies and the private sector.
The Community Meals for Older Women - Adopt a Friend was the winner of the 2005 Australian Government Planning for an Ageing Community award.
Contact for further information
- Carol Hill
- Manager Aged & Disability Services
- Rural City of Wangaratta
- PO Box 238
- Wangaratta
- Phone: 03 5722 0888
- Email: c.hill@wangaratta.vic.gov.au
