Edition 1

Welcome to our first edition of COTAlife

Welcome to the first edition of COTA life the new name for our bi-monthly e-newsletter. 

Subscribers will receive this e-newsletter on the alternate month to ONECOTA to keep you informed about State Government programs, policies and priorities for older people, articles and referrals to assist you to find services to enhance your quality of life and news about how COTA is advancing the rights needs and interests of people as they age in Queensland.

Seniors Week 2014. A life well lived and much more to come ... timeless

Queensland Seniors Week 2013 received great community support throughout the state with events from Thursday Island in the north to the Granite Belt in the south. Over 25,000 people enjoyed the week by dancing, exercising, singing, swaying, creating crafts, talent quests, excursions, and much, much more with lots and lots of laughter.  

We are looking forward to expanding on this success for Queensland Seniors Week 2014 (held 16-24 August).

If you are thinking about getting involved this year, wanting to host an event and require a subsidy to assist with the cost, subsidies for Seniors Week 2014 are now open! Read more 

Forward to a friend

Clarion Awards

We are pleased to announce that COTA Queensland will be sponsoring the Social Equity and Affairs reporting award, under the Social Issues Reporting category, at the 2014 Queensland Clarion Awards.  

The Queensland Clarion Awards are the pre-eminent state-based awards promoting excellence in the media. The annual awards celebrate quality journalism, and reward media professionals whose commitment to excellence in media coverage best informs and entertains Queenslanders.

For more information, visit the Clarion Awards website at: clarions.org/awards

Forward to a friend

Save the Date - COTA Australia's National Policy Forum 2014

The forum will be held on Tuesday 22 July 2014, between 9am and 5pm, at the National Press Club Canberra.  A registration fee will apply. 

Read more 

Forward to a friend

Update on the Age Pension age

The Age Pension age is the age at which you can claim the Age Pension from Centrelink. It is currently the same (65) for both women and men born before 1 July 1952.

From 1 July 2017, the qualifying age for Age Pension will increase from 65 years to 65 and a half years. 

Read more

Forward to a friend

Council Cabs

Some Councils have council cab services which organise shared taxis at scheduled times for residents who find it difficult to get to their local shops. The Councils with this service are: Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Logan, and Ipswich.

Read more 

Forward to a friend

Older drivers wanted for study

How do seniors know whether they are driving safely or not? PhD student Heidy Hassan said the answer to this question will help us to keep older drivers safely mobile for longer.

The number of drivers aged 65 and over is expected to double on Australian roads in the next 30 years or so. 

Read more

Forward to a friend

The effect of advancing age on neuroplasticity in motor regions of the brain

A group of researchers in the cognitive neuroscience department at the Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland is investigating how advancing age influences neuroplasticity in motor regions of the adult human brain. They  are looking to recruit older adults over the age of 65 years to participate in their studies.

Read more

Forward to a friend

Keep the flu off you: get vaccinated

Annual vaccination is the single most effective measure to prevent influenza. In healthy people aged under 65 years, the influenza vaccine is 70% to 90% effective in preventing the flu. Annual vaccination reduces your chances of catching the flu, and it may also reduce the severity of the flu if you do catch it. Every year, the influenza vaccine is changed as required to ensure it protects against the most recent virus strains.

Read more on the Queensland Health webiste