MAV/COTA Local Government Positive Ageing Project
Bass Coast Shire Council Final Project Report for Phase 1
Demonstration Grants
The demonstration Grant has enabled Bass Coast Shire Council to develop the Bass Coast
Shire Positive Ageing Strategy. The final draft of the Strategy will be presented to the
Reference Group on November 30th, 2005. Due to Council elections, however, the Strategy will
not be presented to the Council for adoption until February 2006.
Bass Coast Shire Positive Ageing Strategy Framework
Methodology
1. What Price Wisdom project, 2004.
Bass Coast Shire Council received funding from the Sustainable Regions Program to
undertake the What Price Wisdom project. Dr Marion Collis and Tina D’Urbano, Monash
University, were appointed to undertake the project. It is an analysis of the social and
economic impact of the ageing population on Bass Coast Shire. The project made use of a
wide range of research methods, including a literature review, secondary analysis of
published and unpublished data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other
sources, and the collection of primary data specific to the needs of the project. The latter
included two telephone surveys: Bass Coast Shire Residents Retirement Survey (internal
households) and Bass Coast Shire External Ratepayers Retirement Survey (external
households). Each survey consisted of interviews with 200 people living in households likely
to be ‘retired’ or ‘semi-retired’ in 10 years time. Respondents were asked about their current
and anticipated future lifestyles, focussing on future plans for retirement and semi-retirement.
This data is used in Section 2: Older People as Consumers and Contributors.
In order to collect data on the current and future provision, and predicted need for services
and infrastructure to cater for an ageing population, audio-taped interviews were conducted
with representatives from some 32 service providers and key stakeholder organisations:
Interviews with Service Providers. This data is used in Section 3: Services and Infrastructure
for an Ageing Population and Section 4: The Opportunities and Challenges Ahead.
In order to facilitate the project, and provide local guidance and knowledge for the research
team, a Steering Committee was set up by the Bass Coast Shire Council.
2. Community forums
Older residents were invited to participate in Community Forums that were conducted in
Wonthaggi, Inverloch, Cowes and Corinella. These are the main town centres in the Shire.
The forums were in the form of a workshop where participants were asked about:
 The current services available to older residents.
 Identified gaps in services.
 Their vision for the community of Bass Coast.
3. Bass Coast Shire Positive Ageing Policy
The objectives of this policy are:
 To clarify Council’s role and responsibilities in relation to older residents of Bass Coast
Shire.
 To assist Council to prioritise when addressing issues relevant to older residents.
 To facilitate the achievement of a positive, safe and supportive environment for the older
residents of Bass Coast.
 To promote positive ageing.
1
Council adopted the Bass Coast Shire Positive Ageing policy on September 21st, 2005. (Copy
attached)
4. Literature Review
The Bass Coast Positive Ageing Strategy complements the Australian and Victorian
Government initiatives to address the issues of an ageing population. Many references
were reviewed and, in particular, references relating to the effects of the “sea change”
phenomena as Bass Coast is experiencing rapid growth of semi-retired and retired
people who are leaving the city and opting for life in a non- urban coastal town.
The following is the Executive Summary from The Bass Coast Positive Ageing Strategy. A
copy of the final document will be sent when Council has adopted it.
Bass Coast Shire Council, in partnership with local service providers, community
representatives and representatives from the Gippsland Region Department of Human
Services, has initiated a planning process to address the opportunities and challenges
presented by an unprecedented increase in the older resident population. It is
acknowledged that the population of older residents in Bass Coast is very diverse due to
extended years of life and healthy ageing, but also due to the mix of long-term residents
and residents who have chosen to retire here from the metropolitan areas (the Sea
Changers).
The Bass Coast community prides itself on being an inclusive community where people of
all ages, abilities and cultures can reside in harmony. If it is to remain such a community,
there needs to be planning processes in place to meet the needs of older residents.
Planning needs to consider the impact an increasing number of older residents will have
on the rest of the community. It is therefore important to have other sectors of the
community represented in the planning process.
In 2004, Council commissioned Monash University to prepare a report on the social and
economic impact of the ageing population in Bass Coast Shire. What Price Wisdom is a
very extensive report that involved consultations with 400 residents who were retired or
intending to retire within the next 10 years. Service providers, business and educational
sectors were also consulted. It provides a profile of older residents as consumers and
contributors, and indicates the services and infrastructure currently available, and future
needs. Community forums were also conducted to gain further information on the needs
of retirees.
The information from the report, community forums and literature reviews, have
presented several opportunities and challenges for Council to address when planning for
the needs of older residents. It revealed that there are several service areas that need to
emerge and that a close working relationship with the business sector and educational
bodies in the region would greatly benefit from the identification of, and workforce for,
these services.
The report acknowledged that older residents still have much to offer the community. If
Bass Coast is to remain an “age friendly” community, older residents need to feel
respected and valued by other sectors of the community. They contribute greatly to the
community, in particular, in the areas of mentoring and volunteering. However, it has
been noted that traditional volunteer activities may be unsuitable for many future retirees
who are looking to remain academically stimulated.
There needs to be a greater emphasis on promoting healthy ageing. It is expected that
the majority of older residents will lead healthy lives, therefore consideration needs be
given to the provision of a variety of recreational activities and options for other health
promotion activities. Traditional seniors groups may not offer the range of activities that
future retirees will want to be involved in. It has been noted that one of the attractions of
2
Bass Coast as a retirement destination is the availability of a range of recreational
opportunities, including arts and culture as well as sports and outdoor activities.
It is acknowledged that there will still be a section of older residents who will experience ill
health and financial difficulties. This will mean there can be an expected increase in the
demand for health services and community support services, including community transport
and home maintenance. The increase of holiday makers who are choosing to retire in Bass
Coast and live in their holiday homes, could lead to an increased demand on occupational
therapy and home modifications services. This is because their holiday homes need be
altered to become permanent residences; for example, many holiday homes do not allow
access for people who have limited mobility.
Housing design and mix need to be planned for to ensure there are various options of
accommodation available to allow older residents, and people who have disabilities, to move
through the stages of care, if and when they require it, within their own community. Builders
need to adhere to the Australian Standards 1428, Design for Access and Mobility and AS
4299 Adaptable Housing when constructing new residences, in particular, residences for
older residents. Infrastructure needs to be accessible for all and trip areas need to be
eliminated.
It takes a “whole of community” approach to assist older residents to remain independent,
healthy and socially connected to the community. Hence the strategies in the action plan can
only be achieved by partnering with other service providers and the wider community. Local
government is well positioned to take a lead role in planning, advocating and provision of
some services but the community’s attitude to ageing needs to be more positive if the
community is to be truly inclusive.
3
Key Outcomes
The development and implementation of the Strategy has established the following partnerships:
Partner group
Description
Older Persons
Groups
Several groups have indicated that they will be actively involved in the implementation of the Strategy.
Bass Coast Regional
Health (BCRH)
BCRH provide acute and primary health services and many of the initiatives in the Strategy require their input.
South Gippsland
Division of General
Practitioners
General Practitioners are integral partners in the implementation of the Strategy as older persons are the main users of their
health services.
Bass Coast
Community Health
Service (BCCHS)
As a provider of primary health services, BCCHS is an integral partner in the implementation of this Strategy.
Chisholm Institute of
TAFE
This partnership will focus on workforce training intergenerational mentoring and lifelong learning.
Migrant Resource
Centre
As a resource for information on CALD issues this is an important partnership to ensure the Strategy addresses these issues.
The Council On The
Ageing (COTA)
Victoria
A not-for-profit older persons consumer organisation that exists to protect and to promote the wellbeing of older persons.
COTA and MAV funded the development of the Strategy.
Municipal
Association of
Victoria
The Municipal Association of Victoria is the peak representative and lobbying body for Victoria’s 79 councils.
South Coast Health
Services Consortium
The Consortium is made up of representatives of the health services and Councils across Bass Coast and South Gippsland
Shires. It delivers the Primary Care Partnership programs.
Department of
Human Services,
Gippsland Region
DHS Representatives are on the Reference Group and have provided valuable input and support into the strategy.
4
Priority Issues for Positive Ageing Strategy
An Action Plan has been developed to address the prioritised issues identified from the community consultation process. These are listed below
under the strategic objectives of the Bass Coast Shire Council Plan to ensure consistency and alignment.
Strategic Objective
Priorities







Lifestyle
The Council will enhance the extraordinary lifestyle opportunities in the Shire
whilst maintaining individual choice and a sense of community








Community Building
Community participation
Community capacity
Cultural Diversity
Recreational and volunteer activities
Community safety
Increased demand for services
Qualified aged care workers
Housing and accommodation options
Transport
Accessible infrastructure
Open spaces
Information and technology
Accessible beaches and natural attractions
Maintenance of the natural environment
Capturing the history of the area
Local Economy
The Council will facilitate an economic environment that increases wellbeing
and prosperity through the creation of job opportunities and business
development.





Employment opportunities
Consumer demand for commercial services
Retirement incomes
Tourism
Funding for aged care services
Leadership
The Council will consult, provide direction and be decisive within the
democratic framework.



Partnership opportunities
Strategic planning
Advocacy

Built Environment
The built environment ill be managed in a planned and sustainable manner.
Our towns and infrastructure will be safe, cost effective, functional and built in
harmony with the environment.
Environment and Heritage
The Council will sustainably manage the valuable environmental and heritage
assets of the Shire in the best interest of current and future generations.
5
Project Highlights
The development of the Strategy has allowed the community to see that Council is taking a
lead role in planning for an ageing population. The Strategy consists of an overview of the
profile of the older residents of Bass Coast Shire and the issues that are specific to our
community. An action plan has been developed to address the issues identified from the
community consultations.
It has also enabled all departments of Council to understand that the impact of the ageing
population is a “whole of Council” issue and needs to be addressed as such.
One of the major highlights however, has been the enthusiasm of the Reference Group,
which has generated the development of new partnerships and enhancement of existing
partnerships. It has also enabled a greater understanding of the role of the various members
of the Reference Group. Members understand that the actions within the Strategy will only be
achieved by the commitment of all.
Ongoing work/activities linked with the project.
Once Council has commented on the final draft, it will be advertised for further public
comment. Following Council adoption of the Strategy, there will a community launch of the
Strategy and a copy sent to you.
Partners are already working together to implement some of the activities in action plan. One
of the major activities that the Reference Group has prioritised is to work with the Senior
Citizen’s Groups in Bass Coast to ensure their services are appropriate to the future
generations of older persons.
A submission for funding of a project officer to carry out this project will be sought.
Author: Jeanette Draper
Social Planner
6