MEDIA RELEASE: Queensland supports Age-friendly Communities

COTA (Council on the Ageing) Queensland has welcomed today’s release of Queensland: an age-friendly community Strategic direction statement by the State Government.

COTA Queensland has been a strong advocate for age-friendly cities and communities since the World Health Organisation (WHO ) launched this initiative in 2007.

Queensland’s population is ageing as a result of sustained low fertility (despite an increase in births in recent years), increasing life expectancy and the movement of the large baby boomer cohort (those born between 1946-1965) into the older age groups. In 2013 the expected remaining years of life for Queenslanders aged 65 years was 19.0 years for males and 22.1 years for females.

“It is essential that older people are engaged in the process of creating an Age-friendly Queensland and COTA welcomes the opportunity to work with the Government, business and community on this initiative.” said COTA Queensland Chief Executive Mark Tucker-Evans.

“A growing number of cities and communities worldwide are striving to better meet the needs of their older residents. Designing communities with older people in mind creates accessible and inclusive communities for people of all ages” Mr Tucker-Evans said.

WHO are co-sponsoring the 13th Global Conference on Ageing which will be hosted by COTA Queensland at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre 21-23 June 2016. The Conference will bring leaders in Age-friendly Cities and Communities together in Brisbane to share lessons learned in creating cities to meet the needs of all ages.

COTA Queensland is the Seniors Peak giving older Queenslanders a voice on issue which affect them.

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