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COTA life

Advancing the rights, needs and interests of Queenslanders as they age

Edition 23

We are now just a fortnight away from your opportunity to meet world leaders and experts on ageing

The International Federation on Ageing (IFA) 13th Global Conference on Ageing, hosted  by COTA  Queensland, co-sponsored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is supported by the Australian and Queensland Governments.

 

“The conference will provide a platform for decision makers, practitioners, researchers, service providers, and community members to share their experiences to suppo

rt and empower rapidly ageing populations worldwide.”

The Conference will explore:
• Age Friendly Cities/Communities
• Care and Support for Older People (Community and Residential)
• Elder Abuse, Law and Rights
• Income Protection and Security
• Disasters and Older People

 

WHO’s Director of Ageing and Life Course, Dr John Beard will discuss the recent World Report on ageing and health which outlines a framework for action to foster Healthy Ageing built around the new concept of functional ability.

 

Other speakers include former Special Representative of UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Margareta Wahlstron, Professor Bradley Wilcox, Director of Research at Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Hawaii and Dr Suzanne Garon, Universite de Sherbrooke.

 

The conference will also bring together the Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities.

 

More information visit www.ifa2016.org.au

No one wants to believe that their son or daughter, brother or sister, grandchild or cousin could be abusing them or an older relative. We want to think older people we know are being well cared for.

 

Unfortunately, abuse does happen and the number of reports made to the Elder Abuse Helpline is increasing.

 

June 15 is  World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). It is the main day in the year when the world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted on older people.

 

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day brings together older people, their carers, the community, national, state, and local government, academics, and the private sector to exchange ideas about how best to reduce incidents of violence towards elders, increase reporting of such abuse, and to develop elder friendly policies.

 

To Get Help CLICK HERE 

 

For More Information CLICK HERE

Radio COTA Recap
Designed for you the listener!

Radio COTA is the weekly podcast that brings you a closer look on news and issues that affect the right, needs and interests of people as they age in Queensland.

 

In May, we dedicated a very special two-part episode to National Volunteer Week.  Volunteers make up a substantial portion of our workforce and we are very supportive of the week.   From our Historian, who has been with us since 1999, to our Peer Educators who inform on topics such as the Aged Care Reforms and more recently our COTA Community Ambassadors volunteers are a key component of our business.  We were pleased to be able to dedicate two podcast all of the wonderful volunteers, throughout Queensland, in recognition of the importance of their work.  

 

May was also  Domestic Family Violence Awareness Month.  Episode 12 provided  information to help people understand more about this  growing problem, how to identify signs and get help and support if needed.  This included an in-depth and thought provoking interview with Queensland Aged and Disability Advocacy (QADA) Chief Executive Geoff Rowe.

 

Age discrimination and employment is an area that we are very concerned about.  If you retire at 65, or earlier in some cases, you still have many years left to contribute to family and community. Older people who want to remain in the workforce and contribute too often are confronted with ageism.  Episode 13 is a start of a conversation about reframing ageing.  

 

Join us every Wednesday for a new episode and to stay up to date.

End the Aged Care Lottery

Since the Age Well Campaign first launched in early 2012 we have seen successive governments progress some very good reforms to our aged care system.

 

But both governments have stopped short of what we asked for, and the Productivity Commission recommended. We still have a long way to go to ensure older people get the care they need, when, where and from whom they need it.

 

There are still long waiting lists for higher level aged care packages and too many older people having to make do with care well below what they need.

 

We have a busy program of activities between now and the election to ensure we get commitments for all parties to the next stages of aged care reform.

 

We’re hoping you can help!

 

The first this thing you can do is sign the petition calling for all political parties to end the aged care lottery.

 

The more people who sign, the louder the call for change so please sign it here.

Dementia Respite

As part of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment of $20 million in funding for dementia respite seven (7) community-based organisations from Toowoomba to Mareeba will receive funding over three years to extend respite service hours and deliver tailored care and client activities.

 

It is estimated that this funding will allow for an additional 270,000 hours of dementia respite care through services across Queensland every year.  The funding will also assist people to prepare for respite care and settle them upon their return home.

 

Over the next four years, it is estimated that there could be up to 76,500 Queenslanders living with dementia.

Life Support and electricity – have a plan

Do you need the power on all the time for medical equipment? 


Your power can go out unexpectedly…you need to be ready and have a plan


Registering as a life support customer with your energy company is important.


It means that if they are planning to cut off the power for works or some other reason, they will tell you before it happens so you can make other arrangements to power your equipment until the power comes back on.
Having a backup plan is still important even if you are a registered life support customer…unexpected power outages can happen.

 

Read More 

ECA’s Queensland Regional Listening Tour


Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) was formed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 2015, to promote the interests of households and small businesses in the National Energy Market. You can find out more about ECA at  www.energyconsumersaustralia.com.au.

 

ECA is keen to hear from households, small businesses and communities in Queensland, as well as the organisations that represent them to have your say about the future of energy and energy services in Australia.

 

From the quality and cost of your mains energy, to solar panels and smart appliances, and everything in between.

 

Details of each event are below. Refreshments and a light meal will be provided. Venues will be confirmed when online registrations open on Monday June 6th.

 

Ipswich: Wednesday, June 22nd 2016, 5:30-7:30pm

Register at  www.energyconsumersaustralia.com.au/ipswich*


Cairns: Thursday, June 23nd 2016, 5:30-7:30pm

Register at  www.energyconsumersaustralia.com.au/cairns*

 

For more information, call or email Craig Memery on 02 9220 5501 or at
craig.memery@energyconsumersaustralia.com.au
 

Financial Incentive Offered to Employers Hiring Mature Age Workers

Susan Ryan, Age Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, has revealed that of complaints received involving allegations of age discrimination, almost 60% of these complaints related to employment.

 

With older Queenslanders expected to work into what was once known as their ‘retirement years’, it is critical that barriers to older workers re-entering the workforce and removed.  It is widely known that there are significant difficulties faced by older workers reentering the workforce and maintaining employment, however, this is rarely acknowledged.

 

The Restart Program is an Australian Government wage subsidy that encourages businesses to employ mature age workers.

 

Read More 

Specialist Disability Housing Supports

The NDIS will transform access to affordable, stable and accessible housing by giving people with disability real choice and control around where they live and who they live with - a basic human right for all.


The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability recognises, “the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others.”

 

The NDIS exists to support people with disability to live an ordinary life, providing them with choice and control over the supports they need. Affordable, stable and accessible housing is integral to that.  There are thousands of Australians with disability who are forced to live in unsuitable housing because there are no alternatives.  Often that means accommodation where people are segregated from the broader community.

 

Read More 

NDIS Housing Numbers Released

Griffith University NDIS Symposia Series 

 

Housing for people with disability
"What does an inclusive housing system look like?"

 

Date: Monday 8 August 2016
Time: 9.00am to 4.30pm (Registrations open 8.30am)
Venue: Plaza Level (Grey Street Entrance), Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane

 

Housing is fundamental for people to enjoy life, take part, learn, love and live with dignity. For far too many people with disability, housing is part of the struggle to be included and to participate in community and family life.

 

People with disability want housing that is well-designed, secure, affordable, and well located. They want to choose where and who they live with--like everyone else.

 

To have a housing system that includes us all, this Symposium asks:
“What does inclusion look like?”

 

Read More 

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Decision Paper on Pricing and Payments

The Specialist Disability Accommodation paper on Pricing and Payments which determines the benchmark pricing and payments approach for funding of land and build elements under the NDIS has been released by the National Disability Insurance Agency.

 

The SDA refers to specialist housing solutions that assist with the delivery of support catering to people with significant functional impairment and/or very high support needs.  The SDA is not intended for all people with disability, with the NDIA working closely with states and territories, housing authorities, and communities, to identify opportunities to address broader housing challenges for people with disability.

 

Participants that require access to SDA will be expected to contribute to reasonable rental costs, and will have funding included in their plan to cover the capital cost of providing this accommodation.

 

The decision paper is available for download at the NDIS website www.ndis.gov.au

Eating to Cheat Ageing and Dementia

A FREE  talk by bestselling author & ageing wellness dietitian, Ngaire Hobbins

 

Friday June 10
10 am  registration  for a 10:30 am start
Noosa J – 60 Noosa Drive, Noosa Junction

 

Ngaire has a special passion for the unique nutrition needs of seniors and is an informative, engaging and entertaining speaker.

 

Her books combine a wealth of clinical experience with the latest science but are written for the everyday reader. They outline the unique nutritional needs of ageing bodies and brains and provide clear, sensible guidance on what to eat and do to enjoy independence and live your life to the full.

 

The talk is free, but reservations are advised, though not essential (details below) to ensure there is adequate seating.

 

RESERVATIONS:  Ph: 07 5329 6560  or email: thej@noosa.qld.gov.au

Safety Leadership at Work - Ageing Well Forum

Safety leaders are discovering that an ageing workforce encompasses its own unique set of benefits and challenges.  WHSQ is collaborating with the Centre for Workplace Leadership to host an Ageing Well forum for safety leaders on Thursday 16 June 2016 in Brisbane CBD.

 

There is a fantastic line up of speakers bringing a depth of practical and evidenced-based experience to share with you. Register now for this event to explore how to:
-adopt a more strategic approach to the health, safety and wellbeing implications of an ageing workforce;
-develop strategies to attract and retain older workers through good work design; and
-respond to the health and safety changes in an ageing workforce.

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COUNCIL ON THE AGEING (COTA) QUEENSLAND
Level 1, 25 Mary Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
PO BOX 15525, City East, QLD 4002
Office: +61-7-3316-2999
Toll Free Number (within QLD): 1300-738-348
Fax: +61-7-3316-2900
www.cotaqld.org.au