1. Positive Ageing
Ambassador Program
Jan Healey

2. Council recruited 12 ambassadors
from small towns and communities throughout the Colac Otway Shire
to talk with their friends
and community members
on how best to develop projects
to benefit older people.

3. Getting to know you - weekend at Cape Otway
At the start – advertising, word of mouth – collected a group of seniors and Council staff for a getting to know you weekend at Cape Otway in July 2012.
Getting to know you - weekend at Cape Otway

5. The Ambassadors are as diverse as the communities and landscapes of the Colac Otway Shire.
A key learning when working with such a diverse group is that any workshops or learning process must allow for flexibility and a huge range of skills and experiences at the table.
Allowing a flexible process removes barriers to participation and ensures an accessible process.

6. Be active

7. Be involved – broad range of interests

8. Participate - the Kana Festival

9. Ambassador Projects Multi Use Recreation Facility at Wye River
Access, Mobility and Infrastructure
Supporting local historical events
Intergenerational schools program
Seating in Colac and Apollo Bay
First Aid Training
Transport Working Group
Photo competition and exhibition
Radio program (planning stage)
Story telling

10. Betty’s seat – concrete outcome

11. Benefits to council
Group of older people who are in touch with their community and will gather and pass on opinions up to Council and back to the community
Provide honest and constructive feedback
Organise activities for Seniors Week

12. Benefits to ourselves Making a positive contribution Feeling valued
Opinions are respected
Meeting new people
Influencing council
Learning to advocate
Learning new skills

13. What Next?
More of the same plus .....