News

All Ages, One Community Consultations

The NSW Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing will hold two community consultations on the theme of 'All Ages, One Community - Building Intergenerational Connections' in Dubbo on Wednesday 3 September 2008.

The consultations are an opportunity to discuss building connections between older and younger people. The consultations will consider:

• successful case studies and projects which have fostered intergenerational engagement
• factors which help or hinder intergenerational connections, and
• specific issues facing Aboriginal communities and culturally appropriate models of intergenerational engagement.

The consultations will be held at the Dubbo RSL Club Resort, Cnr Brisbane and Wingewarra Sts, Dubbo. Two sessions will be held:

• 9.00 am (for a 9.30 am start) to 12.00 pm
• 1.00 pm (for a 1.30 pm start) to 4.00 pm

The afternoon consultation will focus on intergenerational connections in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The consultations are open to people of any age and background with an interest in community activities which can connect youth and older people. Aboriginal people are particularly invited to attend the afternoon consultation.

To register your attendance please call (02) 8270 2154 or email maca_info@dadhc.nsw.gov.au.

The consultation flyer (pdf, 145 kb) contains more information about the consultations.

Towards 2030: planning for our changing population

NSW Government strategy on population ageing

The Chair of the NSW Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing (MACA), Mr Pino Migliorino, has welcomed Towards 2030: planning for our changing population – the NSW Government strategy to actively plan for the ageing of the population.

“Towards 2030 is a long term plan to prepare for the key challenges associated with population ageing in New South Wales,” Mr Migliorino said. “The MACA applauds the leadership of the NSW Government on population ageing and welcomes the release of Towards 2030.”

“To assist the implementation of the strategy, the Minister for Ageing has asked the MACA to undertake regional consultations on three issues relevant to Towards 2030 – volunteering, liveable communities and intergenerational connections,” Mr Migliorino said.

“The MACA has an established track record in community consultations. We look forward to conducting consultations to help in the implementation of Towards 2030.”

The strategy was informed by the deliberations of the NSW Government’s Ageing 2030 Roundtable held at Parliament House on 30 and 31 October 2007. The Roundtable involved participants from government, business, academia and community, including four Members of the MACA.

In the lead up to the Roundtable, the MACA hosted a series of community consultations on the theme of Ageing 2030 – Creating the future. Consultations were held in Parramatta, the Central Coast, Queanbeyan and Coffs Harbour and attended by approximately 500 people. A report on the Ageing 2030 consultations is available.

View the Towards 2030 strategy and other Ageing 2030 publications on the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care website.

Appointment of MACA Chair and Deputy Chair

The Minister for Ageing, the Hon. Kristina Keneally MP, has appointed Mr Pino Migliorino as Chair of Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing (MACA) until December 2009.

Reverend Thomas Slockee has been appointed Deputy Chair for the same period.

Click here to view the Minister’s message.

Seniors Week 2008

The Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing (MACA) participated in two events during Seniors Week 2008.

• A Special Screening of the film September and discussion of Yakka and Older Aboriginal People: Experiences and challenges hosted by the MACA
• Grandparenting Forum organised by Council on the Ageing (COTA) NSW in conjunction with the MACA

Older People: Myths and Realities

Older people: Myths and Realities was launched by the Hon. Morris Iemma MP, Premier, during NSW Seniors Week 2007.

It contains a series of facts about older people and ageing which debunk some of the negative stereotypes about older people.

The Committee hopes that the brochure will challenge community attitudes which may be harmful to older people and foster respect for older people.

Copies of the brochure can be requested by calling (02) 8270 2154 or emailing maca_info@dadhc.nsw.gov.au.