Consistent with Australia-wide trends, our population is ageing. In 2021, there were more than 19,000 people aged 60 years and older residing in the City of Port Phillip representing 19 per cent of our population. This is an increase of approximately 3,000 older residents since 2016.

By 2041, people aged 60 years and older are forecast to represent almost 21% of the Port Phillip population, and in areas such as Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, Albert Park and Middle Park at least one in four residents will be over sixty.

This draft policy has been guided by the WHO Age Friendly Communities and Cities Framework. This identifies eight inter-related topics that enable cities to become more age-friendly and encourage active ageing: outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation and employment, communication and information and community support and health services.

For more information, we prepared a background paper on the key issues and opportunities across each of topics This is part of the evidence-base that has informed this draft policy.

During 2022 we undertook a series of community engagement activities designed to explore what it means to age positively and what Council’s role should be in helping the community achieve this. These activities included:

• Stakeholder interviews with service providers
• A community survey (available between February and March 2023)

• Workshops with the positive ageing sub-committee

Through the engagement, the following key themes were identified as importance to our community:

• Social participation, respect and inclusion – we heard the positive ageing meant having respectful and inclusive opportunities to participate in community life.
• Community support and health services – we heard that the availability of community support and health services was important for wellbeing and independence.
• Housing – being able to age in place was a key theme with housing stability and support to stay at home raised as important.

• Outdoor spaces and moving around – we heard that the physical environment provided opportunities for social interaction and connection outside the home and that safe, affordable and accessible transport options was a key enabler.

These themes are reflected in the draft policy.

Who was part of the Positive Ageing Subcommittee?

The Positive Ageing Policy Subcommittee consisted of 8 members of the Older Person Advisory Committee, 3 members of the Multicultural Committee and 1 person associated with the LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee. The group has meant four times to identify the focus areas for the policy, prioritise policy commitments and provide feedback on the proposed draft policy.