Age-friendly Communities; an Assets Based Community Development Approach The Live Well Project is funded by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Age-friendly Communities Grant Project to be completed March 2019

What’s an age-friendly community? A place where people stay involved in community life, enjoy good health and feel safe as they get older. They are also places where older people are treated with respect and feel they can contribute and belong.

Corangamite Shire 12 communities comprising key towns and surrounding districts Communities have unique identities Community conversations matter; community involvement is essential Making assumptions about the communities is not helpful. some similarities but many differences in the way they function From Skipton in the north through the lakes and crater country and the farming regions, to Port Campbell and Princetown on the coast in the south.

Principles of Asset Based Community Development It focuses on community assets and strengths rather than problems and needs It identifies and mobilises individual and community assets, skills and passions It is community driven – ‘building communities from the inside out’ (Kretzmann & McKnight, 1993) It is relationship driven.

Asset Based Community Development If we ask people to look for deficits, they will usually find them, and their view of situations will be coloured by this. If we ask people to look for successes, they will usually find them, and their view of situations will be coloured by this (Kral, 1989). Let’s talk; first seek to understand…

The Live Well Project Goal To shine a light on social connection through: life-long learning physical activity the arts and volunteering… so that individuals live well as they get older and communities become more age-friendly. How was the goal determined? Extensive consultation with PRG ( incl Shire Colleagues from Community Planning, Recreation, Health Services, Dementia Australia, DHHS, Community Houses x2, SWPCP, Community members) as well as 100’s of people from community clubs and groups and recipients of Home and Community Care Services locally, Councillors, library, U3A Why this goal? Social connection opportunities help people deal with loneliness which has a negative impact on Health and Wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Community Meetings

Community Meetings Community conversations were captured on butchers paper and sticky notes… but also as ART (next slide)

Community Meetings A local artist captured common themes from each of the town-based conversations

Community Meetings

Community Meetings

Assets / Gifts of the Hands, Head and Heart Gifts of the head - things I know something about, and would enjoy taking about, or teaching others about (birds, art history, movies, solar energy…) Gifts of the hands - things I know how to do and enjoy doing (carpentry, sports (be specific) gardening, cooking…) Gifts of the heart - things I care deeply about (protection of the environment, civic life, children…)

Community Meetings Making sure the community members had directed conversation time over lunchtime where they could enjoy delicious local food and conversation was really important.

Community Meetings

Themes for Town Mini-Projects Boosting awareness of existing opportunities to Live Well in each town/surrounding district and encourage support of activities in other towns of the Shire. Life-long learning; including links to the University of the Third Age Program, the Libraries and intergenerational activities related to using online and digital technologies. Enjoying nature and the outdoor environments; getting together with others in the community to take care of and beautify outdoor public places to boost their use. Community Arts activities such as murals, singing, drama. Strengthening the links between Health Services and community-based physical activity opportunities for people to start or return to low-moderate intensity exercise as they get older. Promotion of the well-being benefits of volunteering and participation at every age. Transport issues: public transport options, community transport support, taxis, carpooling, driving license issues.

Live Well Project action areas 1. Live Well / U3A Partnership 2. Structured exercise to enable people to start or return to exercise 3. 12x town-based mini projects 4. Addressing the digital divide in partnership with libraries 5. Council based AFC actions https://www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/Community/Public-Health-and- Wellbeing/Live-Well-Project

QUESTIONS? Presentation by: Jon Sedgley - Aged & Disability Services Coordinator, Corangamite Shire e:jon.sedgley@corangamite.vic.gov.au Clare Vaughan - Age-friendly Communities Project Officer, Corangamite Shire e: clare.vaughan@corangamite.vic.gov.au