Creating Age Friendly Communities in Small Towns Project and Workshops

A series of workshops as part of the Creating Age Friendly Communities in Small Towns Project Toolkit were held in November and December 2014.

The workshops provided Local Government with a comprehensive tutorial on using the Creating Age Friendly Communities in Small Towns Toolbox, information how it can be utilised as part of Local Government strategic planning and assist in developing an application for the $1.7 Million Creating Age Friendly Communities in Small Towns Small Grants Scheme.

The Creating Age – Friendly Communities in Small Towns Project, was the recipient of $2.53 million through the Royalties for Regions Regional Grant Scheme and is integral to the Commission’s support for local governments to implement the recommendations of the Central East Aged Care Alliance (CEACA) Aged Care Solution/s and the Wheatbelt Aged Support and Care Solutions (WASCS) Report.

The Project aims to improve the level of age-friendly infrastructure, services and inclusion across 43 Local Governments in the Wheatbelt through:

• An age friendly community planning toolbox that will include an audit tool which will identify specific age-friendly infrastructure and service gaps, a prioritisation worksheet to rank projects which would fill infrastructure gaps, and a planning guide to assist local governments to develop an age-friendly community plan;
• Funding in the form of a small grants scheme to act as a catalyst for the implementation of infrastructure projects identified in the age-friendly community planning process; and
• An integrated transport plan that will identify innovative ways to provide improved transport options for the community.

For more information about this Project please email Lauren Clarke, Research and Project Officer, Wheatbelt Development Commission

E: lauren.clarke@wheatbelt.wa.gov.au or P: (08) 9881 5888.