Creating Age Friendly Communities in Small Towns Project
Project background
The Creating Age Friendly Communities in Small Towns Project forms part of a holistic solution to address aged care issues across the region.
The Project, which was the recipient of $2.53 million through the Royalties for Regions Regional Grant Scheme, is integral to the Wheatbelt Development Commission’s support for local governments to implement recommendations from the Central East Aged Care Alliance (CEACA) Aged Care Solution/s and the Wheatbelt Aged Support and Care Solutions (WASCS) Report.
What are the Project’s aims?
The Project aims to improve the level of age-friendly infrastructure, services and inclusion across 42 Local Governments in the Wheatbelt. The Project will assist local governments 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.
Planning toolbox
The Creating Age Friendly Communities Planning Toolbox has been developed to assist Local Governments in the Wheatbelt to undertake the full Age Friendly Community Planning process.
The Toolbox provides resources and guidance to step Councils through each stage to ensure an informed and integrated plan. For Councils that have developed Age Friendly Community Plans, this Toolbox can assist you to review your current Plan and progress. This will ensure your Plan is up-to-date and flexible to meet community needs.
The Toolbox can be accessed here.
Small Value Grants
This grant has now closed.
The Creating Age Friendly Communities Small Value Grant Scheme aims to improve age friendly community infrastructure and services in the Wheatbelt through funding projects that will enhance the quality of life as people age. All projects are expected to be completed by March 2016.
If your Creating Age Friendly Communities project is finished, please complete the acquittal by filling out the following form: Creating Age Friendly Communities Acquittal.
Local Transport Solutions Project
The Creating Age Friendly Communities (CAFC) – Local Transport Solutions Project will assist to improve transport options for older residents living in the Wheatbelt.
The Project will focus on identifying transport options from small towns to regional centres, allowing older residents across the Region to better access key services and infrastructure including health and medical, specialty retail as well as recreation and social opportunities.
The Project will aim to deliver the following;
- Identification of the key gaps and needs in community transport for seniors living in the Region;
- The identification of communities to participate in a pilot transport program (a route may pass through several communities in more than one Local Government on the way to the selected service centre);
- The successful implementation and evaluation of 6 month Pilot transport projects;
- An integrated transport strategy, summarising findings of the Pilot Projects, as well as some recommendations for the provision of alternative and innovative transport options for older residents travelling from small towns to regional centres. This framework will be open to further development.
For more information about this Project please email Elise Woods Senior Regional Officer, Wheatbelt Development Commission, elise.woods@wheatbelt.wa.gov.au or 9622 7222.
