Page 3714 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 21 November 2006
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people with disabilities and older people. It also recognises the preference of many older Canberrans to age within their established communities.
The government has recently reinforced the guidelines by approving draft variation 229 to the territory plan which incorporates the 10 per cent requirement as a statutory requirement of the territory plan. Variation 229 to the territory plan comes into effect on Friday, 24 November 2006.
ACTPLA is also supporting a TravelSmart project encouraging people to think about alternative travel options, while at the same time reducing greenhouse gases. Since August 2006, more than 3,000 households have been invited by the Travel Smart team to participate in the project. The project is expected to reach 11,000 households in the Belconnen areas of Charnwood, Dunlop, Evatt, Florey, Flynn, Fraser and Melba by the end of the year. The TravelSmart team is helping each household to experiment with smarter travel alternatives. Households that choose to participate receive personalised information that may assist older people with mobility issues and support to help them make those transport changes.
There is no point in travelling if there is nowhere interesting to go. I mentioned the seniors clubs before. The seniors clubs provide opportunities for social engagement. Three seniors clubs in the ACT provide a range of activities and opportunities for older Canberrans to remain active and involved in their community.
Practical examples of the government’s commitment in recent years to support the role of seniors clubs include grants since 2003 totalling around $300,000 for renewal of community facilities; programs aimed at addressing the digital divide; to extend friendly home visits and welfare services; religious activities; local excursions; physical activities; excursions and social functions for elderly people; to enhance volunteering and provide companionship and transport to appointments, shopping, visiting and other outings; for a grandparents support network; and for a weekly creative arts program which encourages Cranleigh students and Kalparin residents to have regular, structured interactions.
Seniors Week is an annual event organised by the Council on the Ageing ACT and is supported by the ACT government. It is held in March-April each year. Seniors Week provides a range of activities designed to involve and engage Canberra seniors and to encourage participation, including concerts, the grandparents party in Lennox Gardens and a seniors sports carnival.
There are many advantages of being a senior in ACT Seniors Week. It provides a great opportunity to highlight these advantages and promote a positive image of older Canberrans to the broader community. This year the theme was “Let the good times roll”, which is reflected in the range of activities on offer such as concerts, film screenings, art exhibitions, seminars, exercise programs and sporting events.
Another government initiative that supports mobility of older people is life reflections, a photographic competition which was part of Seniors Week. Life reflections is one way of highlighting positive aspects of ageing, the contribution of seniors to our community and to engage with seniors in this annual celebration of Seniors Week. The competition aims to celebrate the diversity of older people, promoting positive images of ageing and
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