© Copyright Municipal Association of Victoria, 2009
The Municipal Association of Victoria is the owner of the copyright in the publication The
World Health Organization Global Age Friendly Cities Guide and Checklist - A Review of
their Use by Local Government.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any
means without the prior permission in writing from the Municipal Association of Victoria.
All requests to reproduce, store or transmit material contained in the publication should be
addressed to Jan Bruce on 9667 5546.
The MAV can provide this publication in an alternative format upon request, including large
print, Braille and audio.
The MAV is the statutory peak body for local government in Victoria, representing all 79
municipalities. The MAV engaged McVicar & Reynolds Pty Ltd to assist the Association
undertake this work. The MAV would also like to acknowledge the contribution of those
who provided their comments and advice during this project.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our appreciation to the older people and council
officers who have generously given their time to be interviewed for this
project.
The interviews have left us in no doubt that many council officers responsible
for positive ageing have a strong professional commitment to building more
age-friendly and inclusive communities that support older people to age
positively. They are constantly striving to identify new approaches and
opportunities for improving the capacity of their councils to do this. These
councils officers are also strongly committed to developing approaches where
older people are key players in the process of improving the age-friendliness
of their communities
The older people interviewed have demonstrated a strong passion to be
actively engaged in their communities and to contribute to improving the
opportunities and lives of other older people. A number are drawing on highly
developed professional skills from their earlier working life; others are using
the wisdom they have developed across their lives as thoughtful and active
community members interested in helping their fellow citizens.
We would also like to thank Jan Bruce of the Municipal Association of Victoria
and Sue Hendy from the Council on the Ageing for their support and
assistance throughout this project.
Astrid Reynolds and Greg McVicar
Acronyms
COTA Council on the Ageing
MAV Municipal Association of Victoria
WHO World Health Organisation
McVicar & Reynolds Pty Ltd
PO Box 200,
Williamstown, Victoria 3016
Email – mcvicar_reynolds@bigpond.com
Phone – 0419 511034
Table of Contents
1
Introduction .................................................................................. 1
1.1
Background .................................................................................................................... 1
1.2
Victoria’s MAV/COTA Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project ....................... 1
1.3
World Health Organisation Age-friendly Cities Guide and Checklist ........................... 2
1.4
Purpose of the Project..................................................................................................... 5
1.5
Project methodology....................................................................................................... 5
1.6
Structure of report .......................................................................................................... 7
2
The
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
3
Approaches to engagement of older people .................................. 15
3.1
WHO age-friendly topic areas shaping consultations .................................................. 15
3.2
Advisory and consultative committees involving older people .................................... 15
3.3
Older people driving the use of the WHO Checklist assessment process .................... 18
3.4
Summary of insights into engagement of older people ................................................ 19
4
Insights about emerging practices and challenges ....................... 21
4.1
Different ways in which the WHO Age-friendly Cities resource can be used ............. 21
4.2
Tailoring the use of the WHO Age-friendly resources to local circumstances ............ 24
4.3
Engagement of older people ......................................................................................... 25
4.4
Linking planning for age-friendly communities with other council activities ............. 26
5
Maintaining the momentum for improving the age-friendliness of
communities ................................................................................. 28
5.1
Specific initiatives ........................................................................................................ 28
use of the WHO Guide and Checklist by Victorian councils ...... 8
Overview of awareness and use of the WHO Guide and Checklist ............................... 8
Specific ways in which the WHO Guide and /or Checklist have been used .................. 9
Council assessment of the value of the WHO Guide and Checklist............................. 11
Overall conclusions about the value and use of the WHO Guide and Checklist ......... 13
Appendix 1 Details of the approach of eight councils ....................... 31
1 Warrnambool City Council .............................................................................................. 33
2 City of Greater Shepparton............................................................................................... 36
3 Macedon Ranges Shire Council ....................................................................................... 39
4 City of Wyndham ............................................................................................................. 41
5 Shire of Yarra Ranges ...................................................................................................... 42
6 Mornington Peninsula Shire Council ............................................................................... 44
7 Moreland City Council ..................................................................................................... 45
8 Boroondara City Council.................................................................................................. 48
Appendix 2
People interviewed by the consultants .................................. 50
Appendix 3
Participants in the 7 August 2009 Project Workshop ............... 51
Reference documents ............................................................................ 52
1
Introduction
1.1
Background
Local Government in Victoria has a long history in provision of services to
older people. With the increasing number of older people in communities,
there has been recognition by all spheres of government that pro-active
planning is required to ensure that older community members can remain
independent, healthy, active and engaged with the community for as long as
possible. To respond to this population challenge Victorian councils have had
to move beyond a predominant focus on provision of support services for older
people. Councils are now actively planning to support the positive ageing of all
their older community members, not just those who need support services
from the council.
This report, which is examining the use by Victorian councils of the World
Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide and Checklist
of Essential Features of Age-friendly Cities1, provides insights into how
councils are using these resource documents as part of their positive ageing
initiatives. The impetus for many council’s positive ageing initiatives has been
the MAV/COTA Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project.
1.2
Victoria’s MAV/COTA Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project
In 2004 the Victorian Government released Positive Ageing: A Strategy for
Current and Future Senior Victorians 2 which included a financial allocation for
partnership projects with local government to develop more age communities. The Victoria State Government committed $1.4 million for a
Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project3 to run between 2005 and 2009.
The project has been a joint initiative between the Municipal Association of
Victoria (MAV), the Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria and the Office of
Senior Victorians in the Victorian Department of Planning and Community
Development.
The aims of the MAV and COTA Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project
have been:

to build the capacity of local government in planning for an ageing
population; and

to provide leadership in promoting age-friendly communities which
create opportunities for senior Victorians to live active and fulfilling
lives.
The Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project encouraged communities to
focus on:

exploring the most effective ways for councils to plan for positive ageing in
their local areas
1
Hereafter these documents are referred to as the WHO Guide and WHO Checklist.
Positive Ageing: A Strategy for Current and Future Senior Victorians, 2004, Office of Senior Victorians,
Department of Victorian Communities (now the Department of Planning and Community Development).
3
$0.1 million was allocated for the initial Phase of the project and $1.3 million for Phase 2.
2
1







improving safety and access to public spaces and community buildings such as
shopping centres
exploring new models for senior citizens’ centres to keep them relevant into the
future
trying new ways of providing financial advice to older people
looking at how older people can continue to participate in the workforce as they
age through ideas such as ‘skillbanks’
finding more effective ways to engage socially isolated older people with their
communities
developing sustainable ways to get older people involved in planning for
positive ageing in their local communities
creating better ways to use the skills and experience of older people.4
Since 2005, 38 projects have been funded, involving 42 of Victoria’s 79
councils and a positive ageing adviser position was funded to work within the
MAV to encourage and support councils to address positive ageing issues.
The Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project has been evaluated and
found to have met the aim to build the capacity of local government to plan
for population ageing5. The evaluation report indicates that by the end of
2009 almost all councils will have completed a positive ageing strategy (73 of
the 79 councils); at least six of these are in the process of reviewing or
developing their second strategy. 6
1.3
World Health Organisation Age-friendly Cities Guide and Checklist
The WHO Age-friendly Cities Project is a global initiative which sought to
identify concrete indicators of an age-friendly city. Age-friendly cities promote
active ageing and the Age-friendly Cities Project built on WHO’s earlier work of
the Active Ageing: A Policy Framework (2002) in which active ageing is
defined as a ‘process for optimizing opportunities for health, participation and
security in order to enhance quality of life as people age’ 7.
The WHO Age-friendly Cities Project had two main objectives:

For WHO: to identify concrete indicators of an age-friendly city and produce
a practical guide to stimulate and guide advocacy, community development
and policy change to make urban communities age-friendly;

For participating cities: to increase awareness of local needs, gaps and
good ideas for improvements in order to stimulate development of more
age friendly urban settings.
The key indicators of age-friendly cities were identified through focus groups
in 33 cities in 22 countries across the world. Older people were the main focus
4
Municipal Association of Victoria, Council on the Ageing and Department of Planning and Community
Development, June 2009, Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project, Creating Local Age Friendly
Communities in Victoria, Melbourne.
5
Project Partnerships and Community Planning and Projects, MAV COTA Positive Ageing in Local
Communities Project Evaluation, December 2008.
6
Ibid page 53
7
Active Ageing: A Policy Framework, Geneva, World Health Organization, 2002, page 12
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2002/WHO_NMH_NPH_02.8.pdf (accessed July 8 2009)
2
group participants in each of the 33 cities, with their views complemented by
caregivers and service providers. Australia was one of the participating
countries, with the City of Maribyrnong in Victoria and the City of Melville in
Western Australia participating.
Each focus group was conducted in line with the Vancouver Protocol8 in order
to achieve uniformity in how the information was collected across the world.
The same eight topics were explored in every focus group: outdoor spaces and
buildings; transportation; housing; respect and social inclusion; social
participation; communication and information; civic participation and
employment; and community support and health services.
Two documents were released as part of the WHO Age-friendly Cities Project.
World Health Organisation Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide
This Guide sets out the detailed views and insights emerging from the
focus groups, with the purpose of the Guide being
‘to help cities see themselves from the perspective of older people, in
order to identify where and how they can become more age-friendly…
The guide is intended to be used by individuals and groups interested in
making a city more age-friendly, including governments, voluntary
organisations, the private sector and citizens groups.’ 9
World Health Organisation Checklist of Essential Features of Agefriendly Cities
The WHO Checklist is based on the themes and core features identified
in the Guide. WHO highlights the importance of involving older people in
the process of assessing a city’s age-friendliness.
‘the checklist is a tool for a city’s self-assessment and a map charting
progress….
This checklist is intended to be used by individuals and groups
interested in making the city more age-friendly. For the checklist to be
effective, older people must be involved as full partners. In assessing a
city’s strengths and deficiencies, older people will describe how the
checklist of features matches their own experience of a city's positive
characteristics and barriers. They should play a role in suggesting
changes in implementing and monitoring improvements.’ 10
8
Vancouver protocol http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Microsoft%20Word%20%20AFC_Vancouver_protocol.pdf (accessed July 8 2009)
9
Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide, 2007, World Health Organisation, page 11
10
Checklist of Essential Features of Age-friendly Cities, World Health Organisation, page 1
3
The underpinning framework of the WHO Age-friendly Cities Guide and
Checklist is that there are eight key aspects (which are highly interconnected)
that need to be considered in development of more age-friendly cities. These
are represented in the diagram below. 11
The MAV/COTA Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project supported the
involvement of Melbourne in the international WHO Age-friendly Cities Project
in 2007. The WHO Guide and Checklist have been strongly promoted to local
government throughout Victoria since its launch in Melbourne on October 1
2007.
Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide12
Building on the work of the WHO Age-friendly Cities project, the Canadian
federal and provincial governments have developed a Guide specifically
tailored for rural and remote communities. This Guide was developed because
research had identified that rural and remote communities face unique social
and environmental challenges that can have an impact on health and healthy
ageing different from those facing urban populations.13
The Canadian Guide was developed through a consultation process with older
people and service providers from rural and remote communities. It is framed
around the same eight topic areas of the WHO resources, but the issues
identified under each topic area vary on some aspects.
11
Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide, 2007, World Health Organisation, page 9
Canadian government, Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors, 2007.
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/pubs/age_friendly_rural/index_e.htm
13
Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide, page 6
12
4
For Victorian councils with rural and remote communities this Guide is also an
important resource document. However, it appears to be less well known
amongst these councils compared to the WHO Guide and Checklist.
1.4
Purpose of the Project
This project was initiated to draw together emerging evidence on the value of
the WHO Guide and Checklist to councils and older people as they implement
positive ageing plans, engage older people in assessing the age-friendliness of
their communities and developing and implementing governance models and
consultation processes for engaging with older people.
Key tasks established for the project include the following:






review the extent and nature of use of the WHO Guide and Checklist by
councils across Victoria;
assess the value of the WHO Guide and Checklist to councils and consider
their value to older adults;
review engagement in governance models that have used the WHO Guide
and Checklist and develop best practice advice for use of the tools by
councils;
identify the effectiveness of the WHO Guidelines and Checklist as tools for
raising issues around age friendliness of communities within council and
across the broader community;
suggest any ways that the WHO Guide and Checklist could be modified to
better suit the needs of councils and older people engaged at the local
level; and
develop a report outlining the methodology, process, and outcomes of the
project in a way that will assist councils in using the WHO Age-friendly
Cities Guide and Checklist in a productive way to encourage future good
practice across the State
The project has been jointly managed by the MAV and COTA as partners in the
MAV/COTA Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project. The consultants have
worked with the MAV and COTA to identify the councils to consult for the
project.
1.5
Project methodology
Survey of councils
To provide background information for the project and assist with the selection
of councils to interview about their use of the WHO Guide and/or Checklist, the
MAV’s Positive Ageing Adviser, MAV/COTA Positive Ageing in Local
Communities Project requested all councils to complete a short survey. Fifty
eight councils responded to the survey, representing 73 percent of all Victorian
councils. (The results of this survey are outlined in more detail in Section 2.1.)
The survey assisted in identifying those councils using the WHO Guide or
Checklist as part of positive ageing initiatives, improving the age-friendliness
of the municipality and/or for engaging with older people.
5
Councils selected for participation in the project
A decision was made to select councils to participate in the project from those
who indicated they were using the WHO Guidelines/Checklist on multiple
dimensions. There was also a focus on achieving some balance between
metropolitan, metropolitan/rural interface, regional city and rural locations.
The following councils were selected for participation in the project:





Bendigo
Boroondara
Brimbank
Casey
Knox




Macedon Ranges
Mornington Peninsula
Moorabool
Moreland




Shepparton
Yarra Ranges
Warrnambool
Wyndham
Staff from these 13 councils were interviewed about:



how their council was using the WHO Guide and/or Checklist;
how useful they had found these resources; and
how older people were being involved.
Discussions were also held with a number of older people who had been
involved in council processes using the WHO Guide and/or Checklist.
How the WHO Guide and/or Checklist have been used to support development
of positive ageing strategies has been documented for eight of the
participating councils. These case studies can be found in Appendix 1. They
reflect the status of developments in mid July 2009.
Project workshop
Using the draft report as a resource, a workshop to which all participating
councils were invited, was jointly convened by the MAV and COTA. The
purpose of the workshop was to provide an opportunity for councils involved
with the project to reflect on the report’s findings and to discuss the most
effective ways to support Victorian councils to continue to use the WHO Agefriendly Cities resources to support positive ageing initiatives.
The discussion at the workshop demonstrated that the ways in which the WHO
resources are being used by Victorian councils continues to evolve. The
workshop discussion highlighted the importance of developing effective ways
for councils to share information and to have opportunities to come together
(in workshops or other forums) to reflect on successes and challenges in using
the WHO resources.
6
1.6
Structure of report
This introductory chapter of the report has provided a range of background
information about the MAV/COTA Positive Ageing in Local Communities
Project, the WHO Age-friendly Cities Guide and Checklist and the purpose of
the project.
Section 2 outlines the use of the WHO Guide and Checklist amongst Victorian
councils. It begins with an overview of the awareness of Victorian councils of
the WHO resource documents and how the documents have been used. This is
followed by a more detailed discussion about how the WHO Guide and
Checklist have been used by the 13 councils interviewed for this project and
how the these councils assess the value and contribution of the WHO
resources in supporting the development of their positive ageing strategies.
Section 3 outlines the varied approaches to engagement with older people
amongst the councils interviewed for the project. It begins with a discussion of
how the WHO topic areas have shaped the focus of consultations with older
people. The section then outlines a number of examples of advisory and
consultative committee structures involving older people, including examples
of structures that are already established as well as ones that are currently
being planned or are in the early stages of establishment.
Section 4 outlines a number of insights about emerging practices and
challenges associated with increasing the age-friendliness of communities. It
covers how councils are using the WHO resources, the need to tailor
approaches to local circumstances, engagement of older people and links to
other council planning processes
Section 5 proposes a number of initiatives to maintain the current momentum
for improving the age-friendliness of communities.
Appendix 1 is an important component of the report. It provides a more
detailed picture of how eight different councils are using the WHO Age-friendly
Cities resources to support the development of their positive ageing strategies.
7
2
The use of the WHO Guide and Checklist by Victorian councils
2.1
Overview of awareness and use of the WHO Guide and Checklist
The MAV survey of council awareness and use of the WHO Guide and Checklist
identified that of the 58 councils responding, 70% were aware of the
resources. Use of the WHO Guide and/or Checklist identified:

41% (24 councils) used the tools as a reference document for their positive
ageing strategic plan;

26% (15 councils) used the tools to guide discussion with the council’s
older persons reference group;

21% (12 councils) used the tools to engage with older people in assessing
the age-friendliness of their community; and

24% (14 councils) used the tools for council assessment of the agefriendliness of communities.
Eight councils reported that they used the documents for each of the four
purposes listed above, while some councils only used the WHO Guide and/or
Checklist for one or two of the purposes. A quarter of councils reported that
they had not used the WHO Guide or Checklist at all.
An important context for the responses to the survey is that many councils
had already completed their positive ageing strategy plans or were well
underway when the WHO Guide and Checklist were launched in October 2007.
It is evident from the interviews with councils for this project that the councils
indicating the most significant use of the WHO Guide and/or Checklist were
more likely to be councils in the process of updating their strategies (which
had been developed some three to five years ago) or councils who were
developing a positive ageing strategy for the first time.
Assuming that all councils who did not reply to the survey have no awareness
of the WHO Guide and Checklist14 then at least 52% of all Victorian councils
are aware of the WHO Guide and Checklist and 30% of councils have to date
used the WHO Age-friendly Cities resources since their launch in Victoria in
October 2007. Based on the pattern of use it could be anticipated that more
councils will use the WHO Guide and Checklist as they reach a point of needing
to renew their positive ageing strategies, as long as there are ongoing
strategies to maintain awareness within councils of the WHO Age-friendly
Cities resources.
It was evident from the interviews with councils that awareness of a council’s use of the WHO Agefriendly Cities resources can be temporarily reduced at times of staff turnover.
14
8
2.2
Specific ways in which the WHO Guide and /or Checklist have been
used
The use of the WHO Guide and Checklist and approaches to engagement of
older people was found to be varied across councils. The approach of eight
councils has been documented in more detail to indicate the breadth of ways
in which councils are currently using or planning to use the WHO resource
documents and how this relates to their positive ageing initiatives and
approaches to engagement with older people. These eight case studies are
presented in Appendix 1 of the report.
The following provides a summary of how 13 of the councils interviewed have
used or are planning to use the WHO Guide and/or Checklist.
Council
How the WHO Guide and/or Checklist has been used
Greater
Bendigo
The WHO Guide and Checklist are resource documents that will
inform Bendigo’s approach to development of a positive ageing
strategy which will be updating an earlier ageing framework. The
methodology for the development of the strategy is not yet finalised.
Boroondara
The WHO’s eight topic areas have been the basis for consultations
held as part of the development of an age-friendly strategy for the
municipality. The WHO topic areas have also been used to structure
the discussion and recommendations in the report - Creating an Age
Friendly Boroondara.
One of the proposed actions outlined in the report is development of
a model for older people to contribute towards evaluation and
reporting on progress in developing an age-friendly city.
Brimbank
The WHO Guide and Checklist is informing thinking about the issues
relevant to development of a more age-friendly city. However, at this
stage no decision had been reached on how the Checklist might be
used.
Casey
The council had completed their Ageing Positive in Casey Plan prior to
the released of the WHO Guide and Checklist. However, the WHO
resources have influenced thinking about implementation of their
positive ageing initiatives such as their Ageing Positively Champions
Program and the development of the Age is just a number document.
It is anticipated by the council that the WHO resources will be very
useful when they review their current plan.
Knox
The WHO Guide and Checklist were used as resource documents for
the council’s Age Friendly Shopping Centres demonstration project
funded through the MAV/COTA Positive Ageing in Local Communities
Project.
There is a possibility that the WHO resource documents might be
used as part of implementation of initiatives outlined in the Knox
Healthy Ageing Strategic Plan 2009-2013 (which was developed using
an alternate planning framework)
9
Council
How the WHO Guide and/or Checklist has been used
Macedon
Ranges
A multi-agency strategic planning process to create an age-friendly
community is currently underway in the Shire, involving a consortium
of health and welfare agencies who service the Macedon Ranges. The
project is building on the goals of the WHO Guide and using its topic
areas as a framework for shaping the Strategy.
It was anticipated that the Council's Positive Ageing Advisory
Committee would use the WHO Checklist to assess the agefriendliness of the key towns within the Shire. However, after some
consideration, it was decided the checklist in the Canadian AgeFriendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide would be more
relevant to the Shire’s circumstances.
Mornington
Peninsula
The WHO Checklist is being used to support discussions with staff
across the Council in reviewing the achievements and lessons from
their 2002-2007 Strategy as part of early work for the development
of a new positive ageing strategy. The Checklist is being used as a
tool to enhance understanding across the Council about the range of
areas that need to be considered in planning for the municipality’s
older population and developing awareness of the need for a wholeof-council approach. It is anticipated that both the WHO Guide and
Checklist will be used to support future consultation about the new
Strategy and to monitor its implementation.
Moorabool
The WHO Guide and Checklist has influenced understanding of the
breadth of issues associated with developing age-friendly
communities. This is informing the development of strategies to
support positive ageing.
Moreland
The WHO topic areas were used as a framework to structure the
discussion in consultations with 245 people aged 55 and over
undertaken as part of the Ageing Well in Moreland Consultation
project. Seven of the eight topic areas outlined in the WHO Guide
were used. The ‘health and social services’ topic was not used as it
was considered that this required more in-depth discussion because
of the council's major role as a provider of services to older people
and would be the subject of a later consultation.
The Moreland Later Years Strategy 2007-2011 sets out the proposed
actions under each of the WHO age-friendly cities topic areas.
Greater
Shepparton
The WHO Checklist influenced awareness amongst Council staff of the
multiple aspects of age-friendly communities and this in turn
influenced the issues considered in development of the Council’s
Positive Ageing Strategy.
The WHO Checklist was used as the framework for consultations with
over a 100 people (in individual interviews and group discussions)
associated with development of the Greater Shepparton Positive
Ageing Strategy 2009 - 2014.
The WHO Checklist was forwarded to participants in the consultations
prior to the discussions as a way of giving them a chance to think
more broadly about the issues on which they may want to comment.
10
Council
How the WHO Guide and/or Checklist has been used
Warrnambool
The Active Ageing Plan Warrnambool 2008 to 2013 included a
recommendation to use the WHO Checklist to assess the agefriendliness of the municipality. A working party of older people from
the Council’s Active Ageing Committee have been working to modify
the checklist to make it locally relevant. A scoring system will be used
on the Checklist items to assist monitoring of progress across time.
The localised Checklist to assess the age-friendliness of the city is in
early stages of piloting with working party members each trialling the
checklist with 4 older people.
Wyndham
The WHO Checklist has informed the development of the Council’s
Ageing Well Strategy and has been used to shape the strategic
framework of the Strategy and act as a framework of future
aspirations for Wyndham. The Strategy identifies what Council has
done/or is doing to support each item in the WHO Checklist.
Yarra Ranges
The WHO Checklist is being used as a basis for developing the
principles and actions for the Council’s 2010-2015 Positive Ageing
Strategy. It was handed out to all participants in a recent
consultation forum on access and mobility in order to widen
participants’ awareness of the issues that need to be addressed in the
Positive Ageing Strategy and to seek targeted feedback on what is
currently being done well and also to also identify areas considered to
be priorities for future action.
The Council plans to continue utilizing the WHO Checklist widely as
part of its further consultations to inform development of a new
Positive Ageing Strategy. Consideration is being given to placing a
modified version of the WHO Checklist on the Council's website as a
survey form for input to the Strategy development. Hard copies will
also be distributed through a number of outlets within the Shire.
2.3
Council assessment of the value of the WHO Guide and Checklist
The council staff interviewed for this project all viewed the WHO Guide and
Checklist as important and helpful resource documents for progressing positive
ageing issues and development of more age-friendly communities. Some
considered both the WHO Guide and Checklist as equally helpful. However, in
terms of practical use and application overwhelmingly the Checklist was seen
as the most practical to use. This is clearly demonstrated in the way councils
have described their use of the WHO Age-friendly Cities resources.
The following summary presents the views of council staff interviewed for this
project about the value to council of the WHO Guide and Checklist and the
particular features that were most helpful.
11
Two key overarching positive features highlighted were the following:
Provision of a sound and comprehensive framework
A consistent comment was the helpfulness of having a document that
brought together in one place the range of issues influencing the agefriendliness of communities. This framework provides a very important
resource for understanding the range and dimension of issues that need
to be addressed.
For some, the range of topics covered in the WHO Guide and Checklist
align well with what they have identified as important issues for the
age-friendliness of their community; however they may not have yet
pulled this together in a succinct and integrated way. For others the
breadth of topics and the detail of the issues covered under the topics
expanded their thinking about and understanding of what is involved in
creating local age-friendly environments. This is highlighted in the
following comments from Aged and Disability Services staff responsible
for development of positive ageing strategies.
‘ it educated me on areas that aren't my expertise and so opened
my eyes to other issues beyond health and community services…
I never thought that public toilets would be such an issue.’
‘It widened the issues we were thinking about for our positive
ageing strategy and consultations. The biggest thing is it helped
us think about the issues that we need to embrace and get
others to embrace in order to develop age-friendly communities.’
‘It gave me questions to ask that I would not have thought of’.
A framework from a credible and respected source – the World Health
Organisation
For many, the WHO Guide and Checklist have been important because
they are from a credible and respected source with international status.
This status added legitimacy to the case being made about the need to
address a breadth of issues at the local level when developing more
age-friendly communities.
In some councils, when aged and disability services staff use the WHO
Checklist as a focus for discussion and consultation with officers in other
areas of council, it has provided a sense of legitimacy for them to be
raising issues that others might consider outside their scope of
responsibility (for example toilets, curb design, housing and planning
approvals).
Most positive ageing strategies are still being driven by the aged and
disability services areas of council. In some councils there is strong
corporate and councillor support and understanding of the importance of
positive ageing and the creation of more age-friendly communities.
However, it is also evident from the interviews that in a number of
councils, ongoing work is required to secure and maintain momentum to
achieve a greater whole-of-council approach to development of age12
friendly communities. It is particularly in these circumstances that the
legitimacy and credibility of the WHO framework is most valued.
The value of the WHO Checklist
As indicated earlier, the WHO Checklist is seen as providing the most practical
tool to support development of strategies to improve the age-friendliness of
communities and enhance positive ageing initiatives. Particular features
highlighted for comment were:





the language used is ‘accessible’ - it is easily understood;
the way it is written makes sense to council officers who may not have
particular knowledge of issues affecting older people;
it is written in the positive and this was seen to be helpful when using
the document to increase awareness and understanding across different
council departments;
a number of the Checklist headings are familiar to council staff
responsible for planning who work outside the Aged and Disability
Services area, which assisted in capturing their interest; and
the breadth of issues covered by the Checklist assists older people to
expand their thinking about issues to raise in consultations.
‘Having a resource that is so succinct and organised is very
helpful; plus it has credibility because of the WHO stamp and its
international’
A number of council staff commented that the WHO Guide was too big to
distribute widely, but the WHO Checklist, being succinct and with
straightforward language, made it ideal to distribute more widely.
The value of the WHO Guide
The WHO Guide had a lower profile than the Checklist. However, those who
knew the document well appreciated the range of information it presents.
Material in the WHO Guide was used to ‘support the case’ for arguing the
importance of creating more age-friendly communities.
2.4
Overall conclusions about the value and use of the WHO Guide and
Checklist
The WHO Guide and Checklist have had a significant influence on the
approaches of a number of councils in the development of positive ageing
strategies. The documents have increased understanding of the breadth of
issues that influence the age-friendliness of cities and communities. They have
also been a resource to support aged and disability staff to advocate for a
greater whole-of-council approach to responding to the needs of older people.
As evident from the varied uses of the WHO Guide and Checklist outlined in
Section 2.2, councils are using different parts of what the WHO resources have
to offer.
13
As seen from the description of council use of the WHO Guide and Checklist
these resources provide a framework to support and structure thinking and
actions, assisting in two key ways:


together, the eight topics describe and articulate the diverse aspects that
contribute to making a community age-friendly; and
the topics provide a structure for consultation, assessment, reporting and
planning (i.e. identifying actions required) around issues associated with
age-friendliness of communities and positive ageing.
The WHO Checklist, the most used of the documents, details the broad scope
of issues that older people from across the world have identified as important
to consider in each of the eight topic areas. It is a tool that is being used in
multiple ways including:




to expand the thinking amongst older people, the community and
professionals about the many topics and issues relevant to age-friendly
communities and positive ageing;
to support increased understanding of the need for a whole-of-council
approach;
to assess the age-friendliness of a particular community, on one or more of
the topic areas; and
to monitor progress on the age-friendliness of communities over time.
14
3
Approaches to engagement with older people
The WHO Guide and Checklist identify the importance of older people being
active partners in assessing the age-friendliness of their communities, in
suggesting changes, and implementing and monitoring improvements. This
section of the report summarises the insights gained about how older people
are being involved in positive ageing initiatives in councils using the WHO
Guide or Checklist or proposing to use these resources.
3.1
WHO age-friendly topic areas shaping consultations
All councils involved in this project recognise the need to better understand
the issues that are important to older people. Therefore consultation with older
people is a central part of many positive ageing projects. The councils involved
in this project are undertaking consultations in a number of different ways
with a range of approaches evident including the following:
 focus groups
 workshops
 individual interviews with older people
 telephone survey
 completion of a survey form.
In five of the councils15 who have completed or are in the process of
developing their positive ageing strategies, the WHO topic areas have or are
being used as the framework for consultation with older people (and also often
with other service providers and council staff).
In at least two councils (Shepparton and Yarra Ranges) the WHO Checklist has
been provided to older people in advance of, or as part of, the consultations to
stimulate their thinking. This has been considered a helpful approach to
demonstrate the breadth of issues relevant to the consultations; there was a
concern that some older people may focus only on the more traditional issues
such as HACC services, parking and condition of roads and footpaths.
3.2
Advisory and consultative committees involving older people
A number of the councils interviewed have a committee or advisory structure
involving older people associated with their positive ageing initiatives. In some
instances the roles and terms of references of these groups are being
reviewed. In other councils the establishment of advisory committees/
consultative structures to support increased engagement of older people have
been recommended in recently completed positive ageing strategies.
The current and proposed approaches to involving older people are highly
varied and the following examples of approaches in different councils provide
some insights into the diversity.
15
The five Councils are Boroondara, Macedon Ranges, Moreland, Shepparton and Yarra Ranges
15
Examples of the operation of consultative structures already in place
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
An outcome of the Shire’s Elder Citizen’s Strategy 2002 - 2007 was
establishment of an older person's consultative group in 2006. This group is
now known as the Peninsula Advisory Committee for Elders (PACE). PACE is a
group of older people from across the Shire with an interest in helping the
Council respond to issues facing older people.
PACE has its own chairperson and meets monthly with Councillors and Council
officers to provide advice on recommendations to Council on issues facing
older people and to provide community input into programs and policies. The
Committee is proactive in seeking opportunities to influence council. One
recent example of this is that PACE made a submission about the council’s
Draft Strategic Plan highlighting the need for the Plan to more effectively
address issues affecting the municipality’s older residents.
It is evident that the input from PACE members is well respected by councillors
and council officers and the Committee has influence. PACE will have a key
role in influencing and supporting the development of a new positive ageing
strategy for the Shire and has recently started to use the WHO resource
documents to inform and support its thinking.
Shire of Yarra Ranges
In response to the recommendations of its 2006-2009 Positive Ageing
Strategy the Council has supported the establishment of a widely based
consultative Forum on issues affecting older people. This Forum is led by a
Positive Ageing Forum Executive (PAFE). In line with its terms of reference
PAFE can have up to 10 community representatives (predominantly older
people); PAFE also has Councillor and Council officer members.
The role of PAFE is to provide a mechanism for community input and feedback
on the implementation of the 2006 - 2009 Strategy as well as the
development of a new strategy. It does this by PAFE members providing
feedback as well as through seeking input more widely from other older
people, community members and service providers.
At present PAFE is playing a key role in supporting consultation with older
people as part of development of the new positive ageing strategy.
PAFE has examined the WHO Checklist and found its structure particularly
useful. The WHO Checklist is now being used in a number of ways to support
consultations on the development of the council’s new positive ageing
strategy.
16
Examples of approaches being developed to enhance the capacity for
effective engagement of older people
The following outlines the approaches four councils are taking to more
effectively engaging older people in the governance of positive ageing
initiatives. The exact use of the WHO Age-friendly Cities resources is still
under consideration in a number of these councils.
Brimbank City Council
The Council had a long-standing Older Persons Action Committee (established
in 2001) which was a formal committee of the Council. As a result of
limitations in the effectiveness of this structure, Council is now working to
establish a model directed by older people that more actively engages older
people from across the community. A long-term objective of this initiative is
development of a high functioning, autonomous older persons’ group with the
capacity to undertake local and systemic advocacy for older people.
Knox City Council
To support implementation of the Knox Healthy Ageing Strategic Plan 2009 –
2013 the Council has endorsed the establishment of a Healthy Ageing Advisory
Committee with membership including two councillors, a number of Council
officers and three older community representatives. To broaden community
engagement two complementary groups are being established. One of these is
an Older Persons Advisory Group made up of older people and community
group representatives; the other is an expert Think Tank comprising
industry/professional specialists in the field.
The proposed terms of reference for the Older Persons Advisory Group are as
follows:
‘To consider and advise on the following matters to inform the
implementation strategy for the Healthy Ageing Plan from the
perspective of older persons:

priority activities …. [for implementation of the Plan];

approaches to achieving effective partnership, consultation and
information dissemination; and

emerging issues and opportunities for older people within the
community relevant to the implementation and review of the Healthy
Ageing Strategic Plan.’
Wyndham City Council
The Council’s recently completed Ageing Well Strategy (June 2009) includes a
recommendation to establish an Ageing Positively Reference Group to assist
with the implementation of the Strategy. In addition, the Council is to appoint
a Community Development Officer dedicated to supporting the implementation
of the Ageing Well Strategy and supporting increased engagement of older
people.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council
In 2007 the Council established an Advisory Committee of older people to
provide advice about positive ageing issues. The Council is currently working
with the Advisory Committee on redrafting its terms of reference in order to
17
enhance its effectiveness. In particular there is a focus on strengthening the
capacity of the Committee to engage in a wider positive ageing agenda and for
its membership to be more reflective of the diversity in age and life experience
of the community.
One of the initiatives proposed for the community representatives on this
Committee has been for them to work with older people in each of the Shire’s
main towns to assess the town’s age-friendliness using the WHO Checklist.
However, as indicated earlier, after some consideration, it was decided the
checklist in the Canadian Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A
Guide would be more relevant to the Shire’s rural character.
3.3
Older people driving the use of the WHO Checklist assessment
process
The only current example identified through this project of very active
engagement by older people in planning and implementing a detailed
assessment of the age-friendliness of their community through the use of the
WHO checklist is in Warrnambool.
The Council’s Active Ageing Plan released in 2008 contained a number of very
specific actions related to the WHO Checklist (outlined in the section on
Warrnambool Council in Appendix 1). The Council's Active Ageing Committee,
established as a result of the Active Ageing Plan, has been charged with
responsibility to examine each area of the WHO Checklist and identify the
criteria relevant to Warrnambool. The Plan also makes a commitment to
conduct an annual appraisal for the next five years of progress in improving
the age-friendliness of the municipality using the details in the WHO Checklist.
It is anticipated that the Active Ageing Committee will report the outcome of
the annual appraisal to Council and the public and make recommendations on
any required improvements.
A working party of older members of the Council's Active Ageing Committee
has taken on responsibility for assessing all the elements of the WHO checklist
and ensuring that the Checklist is amended to be more useful for
Warrnambool. This working party has made a number of adjustments to the
WHO Checklist.
The working party has decided on using a four point rating scale to support
assessment of each item, with an additional option for ‘don’t know’. They have
also separated out some of the items into more detailed components to solicit
more refined assessment information. The table following indicates how they
have broken down one of the areas. People will be asked to rate each of the
sub areas on the four point scale.
Each working party member has recently trialled the checklist with four older
people.
18
WHO issue
Public areas are clean
and pleasant
Warrnambool version
Public areas are clean and pleasant

Foreshore areas (Whale watching to Thunder
Point)

Sporting ground surrounds

Playgrounds

Parks and gardens

Walking tracks

Railways around including station
The initial assessment using the Checklist will provide baseline data on the
age-friendliness of the community. It is the view of the working party that in
order to effectively monitor changes in the age-friendliness of Warrnambool on
an annual basis across the next five years, each issue area has to be able to
be scored in a meaningful way so progress from one year to the next can be
effectively measured.
Early feedback from piloting of the revised checklist with its scoring of
individual items has identified a number of challenges in using the document.
3.4
Summary of insights into engagement with older people
Among the councils interviewed for this project, many different approaches to
engagement of older people in development, monitoring and review of positive
ageing strategies are evident. The approaches range from surveys, to focus
group discussions and individual interviews to varied consultative and advisory
committee structures. All these approaches enable the views of older people to
inform approaches to improving the age-friendliness of their local
communities.
A small number of the advisory committee structures provide opportunities for
older people (rather than councillors or council officers) to chair the advisory
committees and drive the agenda. This can facilitate a more concerted focus
on issues of greatest importance to older people, provided that the committee
members have developed effective ways of continuing to consult and seek
input on issues from a broad cross section of older community members.
One of the issues for councils with engagement of older people has been
determining the age at which a person is considered older. Most councils have
chosen the starting age to be 55 or 60.
A number of councils have had strong links with frail older people who use
council’s aged care services and more limited connections with the group of
older people who are fully independent, may still be in the work force or more
recently retired. As part of their positive ageing consultation process, many
councils have sought to engage a wider cross section of older people, including
people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds as well as people
who are not members of established groups within the community. A number
of councils are working to ensure that the members of advisory/consultative
structures are more reflective of the diversity of older people in their
municipality.
19
Some councils have found that older council employees who have participated
in consultations have provided important insights from their perspectives as
both council employees and older community members. In some instances the
issues emerging from the involvement of older council employees has resulted
in increased awareness of the valuable contribution of these older workers and
greater attention to supporting and retaining older workers.
Many older people involved in advisory/consultative structures associated with
positive ageing initiatives view the WHO resources as very useful. They
understand and appreciate the importance of their international status and
consider the WHO resources effectively communicate the complex issues
central to creating an age-friendly community. They also consider the
resources easy to understand.
However, not all older people reacted positively when asked their views on
specific Checklist items. There are potentially many issues influencing this
response and further reflection on these issues will provide important insights
for all Victorian councils. (This is further discussed in Section 4.1)
20
4
Insights about emerging practices and challenges
The WHO Guide and Checklist have been a welcome addition to the resources
available to councils to support development of positive ageing plans and
initiatives. These documents have had a significant influence on how a number
of councils have approached development of their positive ageing strategies.
In addition, these documents are also being used by a number of councils
currently reviewing existing positive ageing strategies.
It is evident that councils using the WHO resources are continuing to develop
views and opinions on the value of the resources. In the short time of this
project, two ‘case study’ councils have refined their approach in using the
WHO resources, resulting in the need to revise the case study details. In
another instance an older person involved in a consultative committee
indicated that her initial response about the influence of the WHO resources at
the time of interview was quite different from what she would have said if the
interview had been a few weeks earlier.
This section of the report draws together the insights into the ways in which
Victorian councils are using the WHO resources and identifies the emerging
opportunities, issues and challenges. It also discusses issues about
engagement with older people and the potential benefits of linking planning for
age-friendly communities with other council planning processes.
4.1
Different ways in which the WHO Age-friendly Cities resource can be
used
In the relatively short time since the WHO Age-friendly Cities Guide and
Checklist have been available, the resources have been used in a variety of
ways by councils.
The WHO resources have provided a very useful framework to support and
structure the thinking of a number of councils about positive ageing and
creating more age-friendly communities. The eight topic areas describe and
articulate the diverse and interrelated aspects contributing to an age-friendly
community. These topic areas are: outdoor spaces and buildings;
transportation; housing; social participation; respect and social inclusion; civic
participation and employment; communication and information; and
community and health services. The breadth of these issues demonstrates the
need for a whole-of-council approach to positive ageing and the need to work
in partnership with other organisations and groups.
The eight topic areas have also provided a structure for consultations,
assessment, reporting and planning. There are now examples of positive
ageing strategies being structured according to the WHO topic areas (for
example Moreland and Boroondara City Councils).
21
The WHO Checklist is a flexible tool that is being used in multiple ways as
indicated in Table 4.1. There is consensus amongst councils that the WHO
Checklist is highly effective as an educative tool for increasing the
understanding of council officers, councillors and other professionals about the
diverse aspects contributing to an age-friendly community. It is also a very
effective tool for increasing the understanding of older people and the general
community about the various issues associated with making a community
more age-friendly, (points 1 and 2 in the above table).
The WHO Checklist has been used by a number of councils as an interview
guide and audit tool for seeking feedback from individual older people on the
age-friendliness of a municipality or town. In some instances this approach
has worked well. However, in a few councils the feedback from older people
involved in these processes has been less than positive.
It is still too early to fully understand the factors contributing to the variation
in responses from older people; however, some of the potential factors
contributing to the negative feedback may be influenced by the following:





the length of the interview, if using all items on the WHO Checklist;
the lack of relevance of some aspects, particularly in some rural
communities;
some of the questions may be confronting to more active older people who
are reluctant to discuss issues about ageing;
the interview technique; and
people feeling ‘over consulted’ and possibly feeling that there has been
little response to the feedback they have provided through earlier
consultation processes.
Given the mixed feedback on use of the WHO Checklist as an interview
guide and audit tool it is important for councils to continue to seek
feedback from older people about their views on its use, reflect on
their experiences and share their insights.
22
Table 4.1 Different ways in which the WHO Checklist is being used
Ways in which the WHO
Checklist is being used
Specific approaches
1. To expand the thinking amongst
older people, the community and a
range of professionals about the
topics and issues relevant to agefriendly cities and communities
and positive ageing.
Distributing the document prior to interviews or
focus group consultations allows people time:
2. To support increased
understanding of the need for a
whole-of-council approach.




3. To assess the age-friendliness
of a particular municipality,
suburb, neighbourhood or town.
Using the WHO Checklist as a focus for
discussions with staff across the council
assists to communicate the breadth of issues
that contribute to creation of an age-friendly
community and assists to develop awareness
that a whole-of-council approach is required.
Specific aspects of each topic can be used to
demonstrate the role particular departments
within the council can have in supporting the
creation of a more age-friendly community.
Individual older people, professionals, the
general community or focus groups can be asked
to indicate how they assess the age-friendliness
of a particular geographic area on each of the
items in one or more of the topic areas. Different
approaches are possible including the following:



4. To monitor changes to the agefriendliness of a particular
municipality, suburb,
neighbourhood or town over time.
to reflect on the scope of issues considered to
contribute to the age-friendliness of the
community;
to identify the issues that are of most
significance to them under each of the topic
areas.
asking people to indicate whether they agree
or disagree with the statements in the
Checklist; 16
asking people to rate statements in the
checklist on a prescribed scale (the approach
currently being trialled in Warrnambool);
asking people to identify their top priorities
for improvement from amongst all the issues
listed in the Checklist; people could also be
asked to indicate the areas that they consider
are of an acceptable standard or working
well.
To achieve this requires some way of identifying
changes at different points of time - the use of
the same rating scale each time would be one
way of achieving this. (This is the approach being
explored considered by Warrnambool Council).
16
This approach is being used in Manitoba through the Age Friendly Communities Project being undertaken
by the Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba.
23
4.2
Tailoring the use of the WHO Age-friendly resources to local
circumstances
The WHO Age-friendly Guide and Checklist are generic resource documents.
They provide ideas and information, but as with all tools and resources, they
may need to be tailored to unique local circumstances or for particular uses.
At present Warrnambool council is at the forefront of tailoring the Checklist to
reflect their particular local circumstances and proposed use of the Checklist
as an audit tool to measure change across time. They are modifying the
Checklist, mainly by adding additional issues (as outlined in Section 3.3). They
have also developed a rating scale for each item to enable the Checklist to
monitor changes over time in the age-friendliness of their community.
It will be important for the insights on the effectiveness of the
approach used by Warrnambool to be available to other councils. In
addition, because a working party of older people is driving the
approach, insights into their reflections on the process will also be an
important source of information for others.
A number of councils interviewed for this project had dispersed towns, often
with different physical characteristics, various transport options and different
services available locally. In these municipalities, assessment of agefriendliness is likely to be far more useful if undertaken for each town, rather
than for the municipality as a whole. It can be anticipated that a number of
different issues and priorities are likely to emerge across towns and solutions
to issues identified may also vary.
For example, in some areas of a municipality the topography and dispersed
nature of the population may mean that very localised transport solutions
need to be found or provision of footpaths may not be feasible. In some areas
there would be strong opposition to footpaths because of the desire to
maintain the local rural character. These local issues need to inform the
assessment of a community’s age-friendliness (possibly requiring adjustments
to the issues being assessed) as well as the solutions proposed for making a
particular community more age-friendly.
The Canadian document - Age Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A
Guide, which builds on the work of the WHO Age-friendly Cities project, is also
an important resource document for councils with rural and remote
communities. There is value in increasing the awareness of this document and
reporting on how Councils are using it. (This project has only identified one
council that is using this document).
Ideas that have emerged through this project to better support rural
councils and councils with a mix of rural and urban populations to
increase the age-friendliness of their communities include the
following:
24



adopting the term age-friendly communities rather than age
friendly cities;
developing an Australian or Victorian rural and remote Guide/
Checklist, building on the Canadian example; and
adding comments to the existing WHO resource documents that
acknowledge that in some contexts there may be a need to
adapt/modify the WHO Checklist so that it is more locally relevant
and useful. (In some councils there is a reluctance to change a checklist
that has been developed by an organisation as prestigious as the World
Health Organisation.)
4.3
Engagement with older people
The WHO Guide and Checklist emphasis the importance of older people being
involved as full partners in assessing a community’s age-friendliness. As
evident from the discussion in Section 3 of this report, almost all councils have
consulted with older people in development of their positive ageing strategies
and view the consultation with older people as very important. Many have
made considerable effort to ensure that the issues identified by older people
and the views they express are very well documented.
All the case study councils, and a number of the other councils interviewed,
either have an advisory committee/consultative structure focused on issues
associated with older people or their recently completed positive ageing plans
have recommended the establishment of an advisory committee. Many of
these advisory committee/consultative structures assist in informing the
council about issues important to older people.
Discussions with older people and council officers provided some insights into
the variance in the structure and operation of advisory/consultative structures,
with key differences found in the following areas:







the committee’s terms of reference and mandate;
the membership of the advisory/consultative committee;
how older representatives on committees are selected;
the proportion of committee members who are older people;
who chairs the committee (whether a councillor, council officer or an
older person);
how agendas for committee meetings are developed; and
whether committee members are provided with written reports in
advance or whether reports are verbal.
Ongoing growth in the number of older persons’ advisory/consultative
structures can be anticipated. New roles are also emerging for advisory groups
as illustrated by the Warrnambool Active Ageing Committee example. The
increasing numbers of advisory/consultative structures and the
variety of approaches indicates the need for an opportunity for
councils and older people to jointly reflect on the effectiveness of
current approaches and the factors contributing to effective
engagement with older people.
25
4.4
Linking planning for age-friendly communities with other council
activities
Across the past decade there have been increasing expectations of Victorian
local governments to develop plans that clearly articulate the vision they have
for their community in relation to physical development and infrastructure and
enhancement of the community’s health and wellbeing. Councils engage a
range of consultation processes in the development of these plans. They are
also required to publically report progress on implementation of these plans.
Examples of key plans councils are required to develop include the following:

Each year a council needs to provide the Minister for Local Government
with a Council Plan which outlines the strategic objectives of the Council
and how it is proposing to resource the implementation of this Plan.17

Councils are required under the Health Act (1958) to develop a Municipal
Public Health Plan which must be annually reviewed and updated at least
every three years to ensure it remains appropriate. The Plan must indicate
how the Council proposes to address prevention of risk and disease as well
as promotion of public health and community wellbeing. Each Plan must be
developed and implemented in partnership with the community and other
local organisations.

As a result of the Disability Act 2006 all councils must now have a
Disability Action Plan or ensure that required actions are included in
their Council Plan. (This requirement has resulted in a significant increase
in Councils’ attention to the accessibility of buildings and physical
infrastructure as well as issues of rights and discrimination. Any responses
arising from the Disability Act requirements have significant benefits for
older people.)
Planning for positive ageing and age-friendly communities has very strong
links with these council planning processes. The eight topic areas that shape
the WHO Age-friendly Cities Guide and Checklist span the responsibilities of
many different areas of council operation. It appears logical that a whole-ofcouncil approach will achieve the most substantive and sustained
improvements in the age-friendliness of any local municipality.
Incorporating key initiatives that support development of age-friendly
communities into the Council Plan and/or Municipal Public Health Plan
has the potential to achieve more sustained commitment and ongoing
improvements to the age-friendliness of the community. A whole-ofcouncil commitment may be further strengthened when the benefits for the
whole community from a more age-friendly environment are recognised.
A number of councils identified that any project with a specific focus on older
people faces challenges because of outdated views about older people
amongst council staff, councillors, older people themselves and the
community. Councils report that where a plan focuses only on older people it
17
Victorian Government Local Government Act 1989 Part 6
26
can be viewed as the responsibility of the aged services area of council rather
than a cross departmental team. An additional difficulty can be encountered
when an ageist response (such as ‘what do we need to do to look after older
people’ ) is evident within council rather than one that recognises older
people as major contributors to their community with a desire to remain
independent and self reliant.
Integrating age-friendly initiatives into broader council plans has the potential
to address the challenges with plans that focus solely on older people.
27
5
Maintaining the momentum for improving the age-friendliness of
communities
The ageing of our community and the clear preference of many older people to
remain living in their community will continue to present challenges for all
councils, State and Commonwealth governments and the wider community
over the coming decades.
The action plans of many positive ageing strategies indicate councils have the
capacity to significantly impact on the age-friendliness of their municipality.
Councils can directly influence the age-friendliness of their municipality by
their approach to undertaking their core responsibilities. The effectiveness of a
council’s approach to improving the age-friendliness of their municipality is
strengthened by a whole-of-council response.
In a number of areas (such as housing, transport, employment, and
community and health services) improvements to the age-friendliness of the
community will be enhanced by councils working in partnership with other
organisations. On some issues councils need to be strong advocates for their
older residents to other spheres of government.
A number of councils in the early stages of using the WHO resources have
indicated how helpful it would be to gain a better understanding of how other
councils are using these resources. This indicates the importance of providing
opportunities for councils to share information on evolving practices and
reflect on successes and challenges in using the WHO resources.
Across the next few years increasing numbers of councils will need to review
and update their positive ageing plans. Therefore it is important to continue to
maintain awareness amongst these councils of the WHO Guide and Checklist
and the Canadian Guide for rural and remote communities as it is likely that
many councils will find these to be useful resources when reviewing and
updating their positive ageing plans.
5.1
Specific initiatives
The following initiatives support the ongoing development of good practice in
the use of the WHO Age-friendly resources and associated documents such as
the Canadian Guide for rural and remote communities.
Creating opportunities for sharing knowledge and providing easy access to
information
‘The value of today has been learning from others – there is a great deal
we can learn from each other’.
‘Things are changing so quickly we can’t keep up to date with what is
happening!’
(Comment from participants at the Project Workshop)
28

There would be considerable benefit in arranging workshops to share
insights into the successes and challenges of using the Age-friendly cities
resources. Given the importance of a whole-of-council approach to
increasing the age-friendliness of communities, considerable benefit would
be gained from involving staff from different departments within councils to
participate in these workshops.

Development and maintenance of a website providing age-friendly cities
and related resources would provide a readily accessible information source
for councils. This website could include links to emerging overseas
examples. (This could be achieved by building onto the positive ageing
website developed by the MAV as well as the Australian Local Government
Association website.)18

There would be benefit in exploring the potential for mentoring between
councils to share experiences in development of age-friendly communities.
Comprehensive communication strategy
Increased commitment to development of age-friendly communities can be
achieved through development of a multi-layered communication strategy
about the WHO Guide and Checklist that targets the following groups:

Council staff responsible for developing positive ageing and agefriendly community strategies to highlight where to find more
information about how the resources can be used;

Councillors and other council staff to introduce them to the key
information and messages contained in the WHO Guide and Checklist;

Older people to inform them about the breadth of issues that contribute
to age-friendly cities and communities and what other older people have
identified as important aspects;

Service providers and community groups to make them aware of the
WHO Guide and Checklist and related resources and to encourage ways in
which they can contribute to increasing the age-friendliness of their
services/activities; and

The wider community – it is important to assist the wider community
better understand older people’s perspective on what contributes to the
age-friendliness of communities.
The MAV/COTA Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project has recently
released a document highlighting many local government achievements in
positive ageing and a copy the WHO checklist is included in the publication.
18
It should be noted that the International Federation on Ageing has recently established a website to share
information on age-friendly communities initiatives internationally. This site is still in the early stages of
development and it is at present unclear how long it will take for the site to feature the resources that councils
are indicating they need to support their development of age friendly communities.
29
This document can be anticipated to raise awareness of the WHO Checklist
once it is widely distributed to councils and the community.
The MAV taking a leadership role
The MAV could actively advocate with councillors and senior council staff on
the value to the whole community of an age-friendly approach.
Collation of issues of significance to older people to strengthen advocacy
An observation from this project is that individual councils are collating
considerable information on issues of significance to older people that are of
importance far beyond informing a local positive ageing strategy. These
insights, if collated across councils in Victoria, could provide a strong basis for
advocating to the State and Commonwealth governments about the need for
an expanded and more integrated government strategy for supporting positive
ageing and age-friendly communities across Australia. The last national ageing
strategy developed in 200119 is now in urgent need of updating.
19
Kevin Andrews (Minister for Ageing) 2001, National Strategy for an Ageing Australia, Commonwealth of
Australia
30
Appendix 1 Details of the approach of eight councils
Appendix 1 has been developed to provide a more detailed picture of how
eight different councils are using the WHO age-friendly cities resources to
support the development of their positive ageing strategies. The information in
this appendix reflects developments up to early to mid July 2009; a number of
councils are continuing to progress their positive ageing initiatives and thus
some of the information will quickly be outdated.
The eight councils are diverse in their characteristics and how they have used
the WHO age-friendly cities resources. They are at different stages in the
development of positive ageing approaches and confront different challenges
in pro-actively planning for their older community members.
The eight councils are presented in the order outlined in the table below. The
information in the table illustrates the diversity in the context of the eight
councils in terms of population size, number of older people and the
geographic area they cover.
It is evident from the discussion with councils that the number of older people
in the municipality, whether older people are dispersed across multiple towns
and isolated rural areas or concentrated in urban areas, and the physical
terrain of the municipality (e.g. whether it has major hills or geographically
isolated rural areas) all present particular challenges for achieving age-friendly
communities.
Table A1.1 Characteristics of the eight councils
Total
Population
2006
Rural
Councils
Rural/
Metropolitan
Interface
Councils
Metropolitan
Councils
Residents 55
years and older
Area of
municipality
Warrnambool
31,501
No.
7,876
%
25.0%
121 sq kms
Shepparton
59,202
14,268
24.1%
2,422 sq kms
Macedon Ranges
39,989
9,358
23.4%
1,747 sq kms
Wyndham
116,001
17,284
14.9%
542 sq kms
Yarra Ranges
144,993
31,754
21.9%
2,470 sq kms
Mornington
Peninsula
140,849
45,353
32.2%
723 sq kms
Moreland
142,325
34,586
24.3%
51 sq kms
Boroondara
162,000
40,409
24.9%
60 sq kms
31
32
1
Warrnambool City Council
Municipal profile
The City of Warrnambool is about 260 km south west of Melbourne and
services the needs of neighbouring rural municipalities. It covers an area of
121 sq kms. The city is primarily residential and commercial and in 2006 had a
population of 31,501. A quarter of the population is aged 55 and over and 6%
of residents were born overseas.
Of the population aged 55 and over, 41% are aged between 55 and 64, 30%
between 65 and 74 and 29% are aged 75 and over.
Active Ageing Plan and proposed use of the WHO Checklist
In November 2008 the Warrnambool Council launched its Active Ageing Plan
Warrnambool 2008 to 2013, updating its previous 2004-2007 Aged and
Disability Strategic Plan. The new Active Ageing Plan comments:
‘The council approach to active ageing is based on recognition of the
need to continue to consult with older residents, to promote their
continuing contribution of participation in the community and to respond
to any concerns and needs that they identify.’ 20
The Active Ageing Plan has built on the success of a number of positive ageing
initiatives commenced in 2007/2008, with funding support through the MAV/
COTA Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project.21
The development of the Plan was overseen by a Project Team, comprising a
number of active older community representatives and council staff from three
council departments - Community Development, Infrastructure Services and
City Growth. The report highlights that a key component in the preparation of
the Plan was the consultation phase, with over 200 people being consulted in
the development of the Plan. The areas of focus for consultations and
submissions from the community were the physical, built and natural
environment, the social environment and the economic environment.
The strategies and actions identified in the Active Ageing Plan in response to
the findings from the consultations cover the following areas:

Public access

Isolation

Roads and footpath

Intergenerational contact

Housing

Skills and experience

Provision of services

Financial education

Information

Age-friendly city
As indicated above, one of the action areas in the plan specifically relates to
the use of the WHO Checklist, with the Active Ageing Plan commenting as
follows.
20
Active Ageing Plan Warrnambool 2008 to 2013. Warrnambool City Council, page 7
These initiatives included the Mature Age Workers Strategy, Business Mentoring Program, a Financial
Literacy Program and a series of intergenerational information sessions to demystify technology.
21
33
‘While the [WHO] checklists are intended for large cities, much of the
content is applicable to Warrnambool. It is proposed that there is
potential for increasing the awareness of the community and promoting
potential future ‘Age-friendly’ improvements in the City through the
adoption and implementation of these checklists.’ 22
The specific strategies and actions relating to the WHO Checklist outlined in
the Active Ageing Plan are set out in Table A1.2
Since the launch of the Active Ageing Plan in late 2008, an Active Ageing
Committee has been established, with 10 positions for older residents on the
Committee. The older committee members were recruited through an
expression of interest process and on the whole reflect younger older people
who are still working or more recently retired, rather than frailer older
residents. The Committee is chaired by the Mayor. Staff from different areas of
the Council participate on a regular or as needed basis.
The Active Ageing Committee is a sub Committee of the Council’s Community
Services Committee. Responsibility for monitoring implementation of the
Active Ageing Plan Warrnambool 2008 to 2013 rests with the Active Ageing
Committee.
A working party of community representatives on the Active Ageing
Committee has been established to assess and recommend how the WHO
Checklist can be used to best effect within the municipality. Members of this
working party have been engaged in deliberation on issues such as:




how to ensure the Checklist is localised to reflect local factors;
the need to have better understanding of some issues such as housing
where members have limited knowledge of what is available and what is
relevant to consider;
whether it is appropriate to prioritise issues covered in the checklist;
how to score the assessment of individual items in the Checklist so that it
can be used to assess progress on an annual basis. At the time of
interview the rating scale being considered was as follows - ‘strongly
disagree’, ‘moderately disagree’, ‘moderately agree’ and ‘strongly agree’
and ‘don’t know’; and
how to use the checklist to seek the views of a cross section of older people
across the municipality.

Working party members have been trialling their version of the checklist with
older people.
There was also an awareness amongst working party members of the need to
indicate tangible progress on addressing issues if older community members
were requested to complete the checklist – ‘we will have to see progress or
else people won’t fill it in’.
22
Active Ageing Plan Warrnambool 2008 to 2013. Warrnambool City Council, page 39
34
Table A1.2
Active Ageing Plan Warrnambool 2008 to 2013
Strategies and actions specifically relating to WHO Age-friendly Checklist
Strategy
Council to appoint a Committee, chaired by
the Mayor and comprising of:

Mayor

Chief Executive Officer

Older residents of Warrnambool

City Growth Directorate

Community Development Directorate
Actions

Preparation of draft terms of reference to be
submitted to CEO, Management Executive
Group and Council.

Recommendations on the proposed
composition of the Committee to be
presented to Council.

Council to adopt terms of reference and the
composition of the committee for the ‘Agefriendly City’.

Seek a high-profile for the Committee and its
work with a media release to be released re
the establishment, objectives, role,
membership and program of the new
Committee.
The role of the Committee is to include:

Examine content of the WHO Agefriendly Checklist in the following areas
and identify the criteria relevant to
Warrnambool
o Outdoor spaces and buildings
o Transportation
o Housing
o Social participation
o Respect and social inclusion
o Civic participation and
employment
o Communication and information
o Community support and health
services
Conduct an annual appraisal of the
modified checklists
First meeting of the Committee for an ‘Agefriendly City’ to consider each of the checklists
and determine the assessment areas relevant to
Warrnambool.
A media release to be issued re the content of the
adopted checklists.
Committee to consider each of the adopted
checklists and determine the method of
assessment and rating system for each one.
The methods are likely to vary and could involve:

An assessment based on the current
knowledge of the Committee

An audit, followed by an assessment

Consultations with people with
qualifications/experience in the area under
assessment.
The appraisal/assessment, which could involve a
period of 3 months, would be conducted annually
over a period of five years.
Provide a report on the results of the
appraisal to Council and to the public along
with recommendations for improvements,
where appropriate
Committee to report on ratings given to each area
assessed along with long and short-term
recommendations for improvements.
Maintain a high profile project with media reports
on the findings of the Committee and
recommendations made, along with Council's
response.
35
2
City of Greater Shepparton
Municipal profile
The City of Greater Shepparton is a major regional centre servicing the towns
and rural areas of the surrounding region. It is located about 190 kms north of
Melbourne and covers an area of 2,422 sq kms. The municipality is a mix of
residential, rural and commercial and has a number of large towns.
In 2006 Greater Shepparton had a population of around 59,200, with almost a
quarter of the population aged 55 and over and 12% of residents were born
overseas. Of the population aged 55 and over, 44% are aged between 55 and
64, 29% between 65 and 74 and 27% are aged 75 and over.
Overview of Use of the WHO Guide and/or Checklist
The WHO Checklist was used as the framework for consultations with well over
100 people (in individual interviews and group discussions) associated with
development of the Greater Shepparton Positive Ageing Strategy 2009 – 2014.
In initial consultation interviews, every item in the WHO Checklist was
discussed, but this was found to be too cumbersome and time consuming. In
subsequent interviews only the broad headings in the WHO Checklist were
used as a framework for discussion.
The WHO Checklist was forwarded to participants in the consultations prior to
the discussions as a way of encouraging them to think more broadly about the
issues upon which they may want to comment.
Positive Ageing Strategy
The City of Greater Shepparton has recently completed development of a draft
five-year positive ageing strategy23 which will be finalised and formally
adopted by the Council following a period of consultation with the community.
As outlined in the Greater Shepparton Positive Ageing Strategy 2009 – 2014.
‘The goal of the plan is to provide opportunities for those over the age of
55 to age positively within the City of Greater Shepparton …
The Greater Shepparton Positive Ageing Strategy 2009-2014 has been
developed as a ‘whole of council’ approach to ageing and encompasses a
broad community approach to ageing well. Driving the strategy
development has been the recognition that older people have the right
to age well as citizens within their communities rather than being seen
as a burden on society.’ (page 5)
The consultations undertaken as part of the development of the positive
ageing strategy involved a wide range of older people including: members of
community groups; groups of people attending focus groups, council staff (a
number of whom were over 50); individuals who sought to express an
23
Greater Shepparton Positive Ageing Strategy 2009-2014, Version 6 – 27 January 2009, Draft for
Community Consultation
36
independent view; professionals from a range of community, aged and welfare
services; and people for the business sector.
Particular effort was made to inform as many older people and community
members as possible about the consultations and encourage their participation
in the project. Information about the consultations was disseminated through
local radio, written media, speaking about the project at various Seniors’
groups across the municipality and meetings of professionals. Consultation
forums were held in the three major towns in the municipality and with key
ethnic groups to ensure wide representation reflecting the diversity of the
municipality’s residents.
Recognising the importance of developing a whole-of-council understanding
and commitment to the strategy, staff in each council department were
interviewed and thus made aware of the breadth of issues relevant to positive
ageing covered in the WHO Checklist.
The draft Strategy is organised into four themes as outlined below in Table
A1.3. These themes reflect the themes identified in the broader Greater
Shepparton 2030 Strategy and all the topic areas of the WHO Age-friendly
Cities Checklist have been accounted for within these four themes.
Through implementation of the Greater Shepparton Positive Ageing Strategy
2009 - 2014 it is intended that two broad outcomes will be achieved:


older people feeling valued by their community; and
the availability of more choices and options for older people to enable their
access to and use of available services and facilities and an increased range
of activities.
It is anticipated that the outcomes of the implementation of the Strategy will
be reviewed, evaluated and reported on to Council and the community. A
range of approaches are proposed to ensure accountability for implementation
of the Strategy including:
 developing a Positive Ageing Steering Committee to oversee
implementation of Council responsibilities identified in the plan and to
provide feedback on other developments;
 reviewing the Strategy on an annual basis to ensure its ongoing relevance
to the community and connection with the annual Council Plan; and
 engaging a Positive Ageing Co-coordinator to facilitate implementation of
the Strategy.
37
Table A1.3
Greater Shepparton Positive Ageing Strategy 2009 – 2014
Themes, Visions and Strategic Objectives
Theme 1 – Settlement, housing and infrastructure
Vision
Older people have access to housing which facilitates ‘ageing in place’
Strategic
objectives



Vision
A more connected community through improved access to affordable, safe and
effective transport and mobility options.

Increase the information available to the community about the transport
and mobility options available in Greater Shepparton

Increased local walk-ability in all urban areas

Increase the provision of facilities which encourage mobility

Improve access to and safety on paths

Support older people in their use of private modes of transport

Increase access to safe and effective public and community transport
Strategic
objectives
Increase older people’s access to a range of housing options
Increase older people’s sense of safety in their homes and community
Increased access to support services that allow older people to remain
living in the community and/or connected to community living in a
residential care facility
Theme 2: Participation in community life
Vision
Older people actively participate in the community and feel valued for their
experience, expertise and contribution.
Strategic

Increased access to initiatives that promote community connectedness and
objectives
inclusion

Acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of older people to the
community

Provide access to facilities were older people can come together for social,
recreation and leisure activities that promote connection and inclusion

Enhance the diversity of recreational and physical activity opportunities

Increase older people's access to health and information

Strength opportunities for older people to participate in community
decision-making
Theme 3: Workforce participation, transition to retirement and financial well-being
Vision
Older people have access to employment and lifelong learning opportunities
which supports their financial, social, emotional and physical well-being
Strategic

Increase access to opportunities for lifelong learning
objectives

Promote the value of mature workers in the workplace

Increase awareness of current volunteering opportunities and continue to
increase and promote volunteer opportunities

Encourage businesses in Greater Shepparton to realise the economic
opportunities created by an ageing population through the promotion of
age friendly practices
Theme 4: Community planning and leadership
Vision
An environment where ‘positive ageing’ is a key platform that informs the
planning and delivery of services, facilities and activities delivered by council
and other organisations in the community
Strategic

Promote the principles of ‘healthy ageing’ across the relevant areas of
objectives
Council’s service and program planning and delivery

Promote the plan as an integrated whole of community initiative

Increase awareness across the community that ‘healthy ageing’ ideally
begins in early childhood and that people's experiences, opportunities and
choices in their early years will influence their quality of life in old age
38
3
Macedon Ranges Shire Council
Municipal profile
Macedon Ranges Shire is a semi-rural municipality, about 60 kms north-west
of Melbourne and covers an area of 1,747sq kms. The Shire is a mix of
dispersed towns and rural properties and its most important industry is
tourism.
In 2006 the Shire had a population of around 40,000, with just under a
quarter of the population aged 55 and over (close to the state average). 13%
of residents were born overseas. Of the population aged 55 and over, 55%
are aged between 55 and 64, 26% between 65 and 74 and 19% are aged 75
and over.
Overview of Use of the WHO Guide and/or Checklist
A multiagency strategic planning process to create an age-friendly community
is currently underway in the Shire, involving a consortium of health and
welfare agencies who service the Macedon Ranges Shire. The project is
building on the goals of the WHO Guide and using its topic areas as a
framework for shaping the Strategy.24
It was anticipated that the Council's Positive Ageing Advisory Committee
would use the WHO Checklist to assess the age-friendliness of the key towns
within the Shire. However, after some consideration, it was decided the
checklist in the Canadian Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A
Guide would be more relevant to the Shire’s circumstances.
The Council’s activities supporting positive ageing strategies
Positive Ageing Advisory Committee
In 2007 the Council established a positive ageing policy position and at the
same time established an Advisory Committee of older people to provide
advice to Council about positive ageing issues. Drawing on the experience of
the past two years, the Council has been working with Advisory Committee
members on redrafting its terms of reference to increase its capacity to
respond to the municipality’s positive ageing agenda.
It is proposed that the future Advisory Committee have up to eight community
representatives. The Advisory Committee has a strong connection with
Council, with the Council appointing two Councillors to the Committee. These
Councillors will be responsible for advising the Council on the views of the
Committee.
There is a desire to widen the age range and life experience of Advisory
Committee community representatives and have representation from people
who are retired, people who are still working, those who are frailer and in
24
Tender Brief, Developing a multi-agency strategic plan to create an age friendly community in the
Macedon Ranges, November 2008
39
receipt of support services, as well as younger people who can contribute
issues from the vantage point of anticipation of growing older.
The Advisory Committee meets six times a year to consider formal operational
issues, with meetings rotated across the Shire's three major towns. The
Committee also has five scheduled Working Group meetings and it is
anticipated that these will be held in five different locations across the Shire. A
key focus of these meetings is proposed to be undertaking an analysis of the
age-friendliness of local townships.
New multiagency strategic plan
The Council has an Aged and Disability Services Strategy which is set to expire
in 2009. Instead of replacing this strategy with another council-only strategy,
a decision has been made, in partnership with other local organisations, to
replace it with a multi-agency strategic plan. As indicated in the Tender Brief
for the project this plan:
‘focuses upon the health and well-being of older people across the Shire
and builds upon the goals of the World Health Organisation's Age
Friendly Cities Guide with its key topic areas: Transportation; Housing;
Social Participation; Respect and Social Inclusion; Civic Participation and
Employment; Communication and Information; Community Support and
Health Services; and Outdoor Spaces And Buildings. This new strategy is
expected to serve as the guiding strategic plan for all services including
health and welfare agencies which seek to build the social capital,
community connectedness and social cohesion of older people across the
Shire.’25
The development of the Strategy is being informed by consultations with a
diverse range of older people in the various communities across the Shire as
well as with businesses, agencies, organisations and their staff who serve
older people. The WHO Checklist topic areas are being used as a framework
for consultations
The Council Plan 2009-2013 indicates the Council anticipates implementing the
elements of the Positive Ageing Strategy relevant to the Council across the
2010/2012 Council years with a review of the Strategy identified for
2012/2013.
25
Ibid
40
4
City of Wyndham
Municipal profile
The City of Wyndham is located in the south west of Melbourne, 20 km from
the Melbourne central business district and covers an area of 542 sq kms. The
city is a mix of residential, industrial and rural areas. It is one of Melbourne’s
key growth areas and has been experiencing rapid population growth for many
years, including increases in the number of older residents.
In 2006 the municipality had a population of 116,000, with 15% of the
population aged 55 and over (well below the Victorian average of 25%). 27%
of residents are overseas born. Of the population aged 55 and over, 55% are
aged between 55 and 64, 26% between 65 and 74 and 19% are aged 75 and
over.
Overview of Use of the WHO Guide and/or Checklist
The WHO Checklist has informed the development of the Council’s positive
ageing strategy and ‘has been used to shape the strategic framework of the Ageing
Well Strategy and act as a framework of future aspiration for Wyndham’. 26
The Strategy identifies what Council has already done, or is currently doing to
support each item in the WHO Checklist. This documentation demonstrates the
important role of many areas of the Council’s activities in responding to issues
affecting older people.
Ageing Well Strategy
The City of Wyndham’s recently completed an Ageing Well Strategy (June
2009). The development of the Strategy was driven collaboratively by the
Aged and Disability division as well as the Strategic Planning and Town
Planning areas. Through their day-to-day work these divisions of Council were
very aware of issues associated with increasing numbers of older residents
and the need for a proactive response. For example the Planning area was
facing a number of issues relating to development applications for retirement
villages.
Responsibility for implementing the Strategy will involve a whole-of- council
approach and will particularly involve the Council directorates of
Infrastructure, Sustainable Development and Community Development.
The development of the Strategy has drawn on a range of community and
stakeholder consultations undertaken for other Council reviews and strategies,
particularly the Disability Strategy and Action Plan and the review of Home
and Community Care services.
Amongst many other initiatives, the Strategy will lead to the establishment of
a position dedicated to supporting implementation of the Positive Ageing Plan
and growing the engagement of older people. In addition an ’Ageing Positively’
Reference Group is to be established to assist with the Plan’s implementation.
26
Ageing Well Strategy, Wyndham City Council, June 2009 page 18
41
5
Shire of Yarra Ranges
Municipal profile
Yarra Ranges Shire is a semi-rural municipality, about 30 kms east of
Melbourne and covers an area of 2,470sq kms. The Shire is a mix of
Melbourne suburbia, dispersed towns and rural properties.
In 2006 the Shire’s population was 144,993 with over a fifth of the population
aged 55 and over. 17% of residents were born overseas. Of the population
aged 55 and over, 53% are aged between 55 and 64, 26% between 65 and 74
and 21% are aged 75 and over.
Overview of Use of the WHO Guide and/or Checklist
The Yarra Ranges Shire Council and Council’s older persons’ consultative
committee are using the WHO Checklist as a basis for developing the
principles and actions for the Council’s 2010-2015 Positive Ageing Strategy.
Work on development of this Strategy has recently commenced and the WHO
Checklist was handed out to all participants in a recent consultation forum on
access and mobility. At this forum (attended by 60 people aged between 40
and 90 years) the WHO Checklist was used to widen people's awareness of the
issues that need to be addressed in the Positive Ageing Strategy and to seek
targeted feedback on what was currently being done well and also to also
identify areas considered to be priorities for future action.
Council plans to continue utilizing the WHO Checklist widely as part of its
further consultation to inform development of a new Positive Ageing Strategy.
Consideration is being given to placing a modified version of the WHO
Checklist in survey format on the Council's website to allow residents to have
input to the Strategy development. Hard copies will also be distributed to
older people through a number of outlets within the Shire. At present people
who have taken copies of the WHO Checklist have been asked to mark the
three things that they think are working well within the Shire and the three
things which they think need attention, with the option of also indicating their
views on additional areas.
Positive Ageing Strategy and consultative approaches with older people
The Council has a positive ageing strategy27 which is due for updating by
2010. Work on updating the strategy has commenced. A significant focus of
the 2006-2009 Strategy was on issues related to and arising from the
Council's service provision role. The Positive Ageing Strategy currently under
development will have a wider focus on developing an age-friendly
environment within the Shire.
One of the recommendations of the 2006-2009 Strategy was the
establishment of an Older Persons’ Reference Group. This group is now known
as the Positive Ageing Forum Executive (PAFE) and its role is to provide a
mechanism for community input and feedback on the implementation of the
2006-2009 Strategy as well as development of the next strategy. PAFE can
have between seven to ten older community members and they are selected
27
A Positive Future, Positive Ageing in the Shire of Yarra Ranges 2006-2009
42
to reflect the diversity amongst older people across the municipality. PAFE also
has Councillor and Council officer members.
People can register to have general membership of the Forum. Membership is
open to all interested parties and thus covers a broad range of community
agencies and residents. General members can attend quarterly forums and
may also be asked to participate from time to time on working groups.
43
6
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
Municipal profile
Mornington Peninsula Shire is a mix of urban and semi-rural areas, between
40 and 80 kms south east of Melbourne and covers an area of 723 sq kms and
is a promontory almost surrounded by sea. The Shire is a mix of urban areas,
dispersed towns and rural properties and its most important industry is
tourism.
In 2006 the Shire had a population of 140,849. The Shire has a number of
significant retirement communities and has a large older population, with just
under a third of the population aged 55 and over and 19% of residents were
born overseas. Of the population aged 55 and over, 40% are aged between 55
and 64, 31% between 65 and 74 and 29% are aged 75 and over.
Overview of Use of the WHO Guide and/or Checklist
The WHO Checklist is being used to support discussion with staff across the
Council in reviewing the outcomes and lessons from their 2002-2007 Elder
Citizen’s in the Community strategy as part of early work for the development
of a new positive ageing strategy. The WHO Checklist is considered to be a
significant tool for assisting to expand thinking about the issues to be
considered when looking at planning for the municipality’s older population,
particularly in developing awareness of the need for a whole-of-council
approach. It is anticipated that both the WHO Guide and Checklist will also be
used to support future consultation about the new Strategy and to monitor its
implementation.
The Positive Ageing Strategy and older persons’ consultative structure
The 2009-2013 Shire Strategic Plan identifies development of a positive
ageing strategy amongst its strategic priorities. In 2002 the Council developed
a five-year strategy plan for services for older people in the Mornington
Peninsula Shire28. As part of preparing for the development of the positive
ageing strategy, a thorough review is being undertaken of the achievements
and lessons arising from the previous Strategy.
One of the recommendations of the 2002-2007 Elder Citizen’s in the
Community strategy was establishment of a formal Elder Citizens Advisory
Committee to represent issues and views of older citizens. This group was
formed in 2006 and meets monthly with Councillors and Council Officers from
the Aged and Disability Services Unit to provide advice on recommendations to
Council on issues facing older adults and to provide community input into
programs and policies. One of the specific tasks of this group is to help the
Council implement its Elder Citizens in the Community strategy; it will have a
key role in supporting the development of the new Strategy. The Group
actively works to consult and engage with older people across the Shire in
order to represent their views.
28
Elder Citizens in the Community; A Five-Year Strategy Plans for Developing Services for the Elder
Citizens of the Mornington Peninsula Shire, December 2002
44
7
Moreland City Council
Municipal profile
The City of Moreland is located in the inner north of Melbourne, around 5 km
from the Melbourne central business district, and covers an area of 51 sq kms.
The city is a mix of residential and industrial areas and has a significant retail
shopping strip.
In 2006 the City had a population of 142,325, with almost a quarter of the
population aged 55 and over. 35% of residents were born overseas. Of the
population aged 55 and over, 34% are aged between 55 and 64, 32% are
aged between 65 and 74 and 34% are aged 75 and over.
Overview of use of the WHO Guide and/or Checklist
The WHO Checklist was used as a framework for the consultations with older
people undertaken as part of the Ageing Well in Moreland Consultation
project29. This project examined the main issues people 55 and over in
Moreland were confronting as well as the opportunities available to them.
Seven of the eight topic areas outlined in the WHO Guide and Checklist were
used. The ‘health and social services’ topic was not used because it was
considered to require more in-depth discussion due to the Council's major role
as a provider of services to older people; it would be the subject of a later
consultation.
The Moreland Later Years Strategy 2007-2012 sets out the proposed actions
under each of the WHO Age-friendly Cities topic areas.
Ageing Well in Moreland Consultation and Later Years Strategy
The consultations undertaken as part of the Ageing Well in Moreland project
asked people what makes Moreland a good place in which to grow old. A total
of 245 people participated in consultations. A deliberate effort was made to
ensure that older people from all suburbs, cultural background, socioeconomic status, age cohorts and genders were included in the consultations.
Forty five people aged 55 and over participated in focus groups and in-depth
individual face–to face interviews undertaken by Council staff. People were
given a choice of attending a focus group or individual interview, with many
choosing an individual interview. In addition, a phone survey of 200 people
aged 55 and over was used to extend the number of people involved in
consultations and add quantitative data to the qualitative data collected
through the focus groups and more in-depth personal interviews.
The Moreland Later Years Strategy 2007-2012 (adopted by the Council in
August 2008) was developed to provide a framework for the Council to
consider the actions it can take to support positive ageing opportunities for all
its older residents. The Ageing Well in Moreland consultations informed the
development of the Strategy. The views of older people participating in the
29
The Ageing Well in Moreland project was supported with funding through the MAV/COTA Positive
Ageing in Local Communities Project.
45
consultation have been documented in detail and are included as appendices
to the Strategy.
All participants involved in the consultation will receive a copy of the Later
Years Strategy and a summary of the consultation report. All participants in
the consultations have also been invited to be on positive ageing mailing list to
keep them informed about progress on implementation of the strategy and
other initiatives. Many will be invited to participate in a Seniors Panel to
provide feedback to Council on specific issues.
The actions proposed in the Strategy are set out in Table A1.4. They indicate
that many areas of the council have a role to play in implementation of the
Strategy. Progress on implementation of the actions outlined in the Strategy
will be reported through the Municipal Public Health Plan reporting process.
46
Table A1.5
Moreland - Later Years Strategy 2007-2012
Suggested actions in response to issues raised during consultations
Topic
Outdoor
spaces and
buildings
Suggested actions for the Council

Remove barriers to physical access in existing infrastructure

Plan and create safe and secure public spaces

Ensure universal design is implemented in all building initiatives
Transport



Housing





Social
participation





Respect and
social
inclusion





Communication and
information




Civic
participation
and
employment
(includes
volunteering)






Include the mobility of older people as an element in the Moreland
Integrated Transport Strategy
Promote road and pedestrian safety
Trials of innovative ways of assisting older people to use public transport
more than they do now
Provide advice on development applications to ensure elements of
affordable accessible and adaptable housing are included
Investigate the issues faced by older people in the rental market and
formulate strategies to support them
Advocate for social housing in public housing for seniors
Continue to advocate for regulation on accessible and adaptable housing
Provide educational opportunities for older people on selling, reverse
mortgages, buying joint property as an investment and developing a
residential site
Promote awareness of the benefits of physical and mental activity and
social participation
Enhance the opportunities available for older citizens to engage in a wide
range of leisure, recreational and educational and cultural activities
Integrated approach to health promotion for older people, with a focus on
self-management and prevention
Engaged with adult learning organisations and promotion wide range of
lifelong learning opportunities
Identified trial ways to encourage informal connections between people
Create opportunities for intergenerational contact with children and youth
Communicate ageing issues in positive ageing notions through ‘Inside
Moreland’ and other council publications
Promote awareness of the needs and preferences of older citizens to the
local business community
Community development and strengthening initiatives need to include
seniors
Identify projects and form partnerships
Council style guide should result in age friendly printed information
Hard copies of information should be made available as website addresses
Facilitate access to relevant information and advisory services on any
matter including consumer rights
Build a mailing list of older people for newsletters and promotions
Council to examine its own ageing workforce and examine options re
retention and recruitment of mature age staff
Create opportunities for older citizens to contribute to and advise on
decisions that affect their well-being
Recognise and reward older citizens contributions and achievements
Work with organisations to promote opportunities for productive
contribution through paid and unpaid work, and lifelong learning
Promote mentoring roles for older citizens
Promote awareness in the business sector and community of the skills and
contributions of older people
47
8
Boroondara City Council
Municipal profile
The City of Boroondara is in Melbourne's inner and middle-eastern suburbs, 5
km east of the central business district and covers an area of 60 sq kms. The
city is primarily residential and in 2006 had a population of 162,000. A quarter
of the population is aged 55 and over and 27% of residents were born
overseas.
Of the population aged 55 and over, 43% are aged between 55 and 64, 25%
between 65 and 74 and 32% are aged 75 and over.
Overview of Use of the WHO Guide and/or Checklist
The Council has used the framework provided by the eight topic areas outlined
in the WHO Guide and Checklist to structure the consultations associated with
development of their Age Friendly City Strategy. The WHO topic areas are also
used as headings in the Strategy’s Action Plan. Two topic areas have been
combined, namely ‘social participation’ and ‘respect and social inclusion’.
The Age Friendly City Strategy report comments:
‘The Age Friendly City model developed by the World Health
Organisation provides a framework within which Council can view the
social, physical, cultural and economic environment experienced by
older adults living in Boroondara. This provides an important framework
for assessing and planning current and future developments for older
adults. Ageing well involves a shift in thinking, a new approach based on
knowledge and research about this stage of life.’ 30
The Council’s Age Friendly City Strategy
The Boroondara Council Plan 2008- 2013 included a commitment to develop
an Age Friendly City Strategy that sought to promote the health, well-being
and independence of Boroondara's older residents.31 Key outcomes being
sought from development of the Strategy are as follows.




‘Strengthening the community by actively engaging residents and service
providers in the planning for an Age Friendly City.
Integrating social, cultural, environmental, physical and economic
approaches to older people.
Strengthening relationships and increased collaboration between council
and community-based agencies.
Linking overarching council policies to service and facility planning and
development.’ 32
Work on development of the Strategy began in 2008, with 10 focus groups to
support the development of the Age-friendly City Strategy held in late 2008,
with a total of 87 people attending. The size of the focus groups varied from
between 5 and 15 people per group. Focus group participants came from five
30
Creating An Age Friendly Boroondara, Draft Strategic Directions, page 1
Boroondara Council Planned 2008- 2013, page 19
32
Creating an Age Friendly Boroondara. A Review Of Issues And Opportunities, page 5
31
48
key groups: people retiring soon; older retired people; frail older people;
Council staff across a wide range of functions; and local community agency
aged services staff.
Following the focus groups, a report was prepared - Creating an Age Friendly
Boroondara, A Review of Issues and Opportunities. This report includes a
range of contextual analysis and outlines the issues raised in the focus groups
under the key themes of the WHO Guide and Checklist. The Report outlines
proposed actions to address issues raised during the consultations.
In June 2009, the Council resolved to seek community feedback on the
proposed directions and actions outlined in the Report. Following this
feedback, the council proposes to further develop its action plan.
Following is an example of some of the proposed objectives and actions
outlined in the Age Friendly City Strategy particularly relevant to the ongoing
role of older people in monitoring the implementation of actions and the
Council’s proposed reporting on progress.
Creating an Age Friendly Boroondara, A Review of Issues and Opportunities
Extract of some objectives and action
Objective
Actions
Ongoing involvement of older people
Engage with older Boroondara

Explore and develop models for older people to
residents and visitors in the
contribute towards evaluation and reporting on
planning, development and
progress in developing an Age Friendly City
implementation of an Age
Friendly City.33

Establish an ongoing community engagement
and consultation plan with Boroondara’s older
adults to seek the opinions and input:
o promoting partnerships with older people in
the design, development and
implementation of an Age Friendly
Boroondara.
o facilitate older people to come together to
address key issues
o encourage diversity in group membership
and support specialist groups across CALD
groups, people with a disability, gender and
sexual orientation.
Reporting on progress in developing an Age Friendly City
Report to Council and

Explore opportunities to develop an Age Friendly
Community on progress in
City Scorecard for the City of Boroondara as part
developing an Age Friendly
of the reporting process.
City34

Report periodically to Council and the
community about the progress in developing an
Age Friendly Boroondara
33
34
Ibid page 20-21
Ibid page 23
49
Appendix 2 People interviewed by the consultants
Council
People Interviewed
Bendigo
Rod Flavell, Manager Aged and Disability Services
Di Parker, Ethnic Services Coordinator
Heidi Teague, older resident
Jeanette Westhead, older resident
Ken Westhead, older resident
Boroondara
Lisa Loughnan, Positive Ageing Coordinator
Brimbank
John MacDonagh, Manager Community Care
Casey
Janette Green, Manager Community Development
Joan Pepi, Acting Manager Community Development
Knox
Debbie Beal, Manager Healthy Ageing
Macedon Ranges
Brent Allan, Manager Community Services
Mornington
Peninsula
Jenny Van Riel, Manager Aged and Disability Services
Helen Ridgeway, Positive Ageing Project
Peter Cracknell, Coordinator Community Support Services
Marilyn Godley, Chair Peninsula Advisory Committee for Elders
Moorabool
Robyn Salt, Aged and Disability Services Coordinator
Moreland
Liz Harvey, Aged Services Policy and Planning Officer
Shepparton
Teri Bennet-Meyer, Coordinator Aged Services
Margaret Wayman, resident involved in consultations
Jim Douglas, resident involved in consultations
Yarra Ranges
Cheryl McInnes, Acting Manager Home & Community Support
Margo Holness, Executive Officer Operations and Social Support
Warrnambool
Jill Warne, Service Manager - Community Programs
Neil Ballard, Rural Access Program
Dr Jan Stewart, member Active Ageing Committee
Elaine Hill, member Active Ageing Committee
Richard Ridgwell, member Active Ageing Committee
Jim Gray, member Active Ageing Committee
Bore Hoekstra, member Active Ageing Committee
Brenda Hampson – member Active Ageing Committee
Wyndham
Priscilla Mayne – Manager Aged, Disability and Recovery
Others
Kathleen Brasher
Roland Naufal
Formerly of the McCaughey Centre and Co-ordinator of
Melbourne’s involvement in the original WHO Age-friendly Cities
project
4C - consultant to a number of councils using the WHO Agefriendly Cities Guide and Checklist
50
Appendix 3
Participants in the 7 August 2009 Project Workshop
MAV
Jan Bruce
COTA Victoria
Sue Hendy
Councils
Bendigo
Rod Flavell
Boroondara
Lisa Loughnan
Casey
Emma Wilkinson
Macedon Ranges
Brent Allan
Mornington Peninsula
Jenny Van Riel
Moreland
Liz Harvey
Yarra Ranges
Cheryl McInnes and Margo Holness
Warrnambool
Jill Warne (by telephone)
Wyndham
Priscilla Mayne
51
Reference documents
Canadian governments, Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for
Seniors, Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide, 2007
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniorsaines/pubs/age_friendly_rural/index_e.htm
Centre on Aging University of Manitoba, May 2009, Age-Friendly Communities
in Manitoba, Summary of Survey Findings - Arborg
Municipal Association of Victoria, Council on the Ageing and Department of
Planning and Community Development, June 2009 Positive Ageing in Local
Communities Project, Creating Local Age Friendly Communities in Victoria,
Melbourne
Project Partnerships and Community Planning and Projects, December 2008,
MAV COTA Positive Ageing in Local Communities Project Evaluation, prepared
for the Municipal Association of Victoria, Council on the Ageing and the
Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development
Vancouver protocol
http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Microsoft%20Word%20%20AFC_Vancouver_protocol.pdf (accessed July 8 2009)
World Health Organisation, 2007, Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide,
http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_Eng
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World Health Organisation, 2007, Checklist of Essential Features of Agefriendly Cities
http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Age_friendly_cities_checklist.pdf
52