Page 3048 - Week 08 - Thursday, 15 August 2019
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While that is the big picture, there are a host of other important initiatives that are already delivering for older Canberrans. The government’s 2019-20 budget includes a range of measures to support our goals for these important Canberra citizens. The social inclusion of seniors will be supported through an additional allocation of $162,000 over two years to our community partner, the Council on the Ageing ACT, COTA. This will assist COTA in its excellent work to expand its delivery of the ACT seniors card program and its Seniors Week events.
The seniors card program is one of our most effective tools to strengthen social inclusion because it encourages older people to keep active and be engaged in the community by providing access to discounts and concessions. Participating businesses provide these discounts on a range of goods and services, which enables seniors to save on leisure, entertainment, travel, dining out and much more. The seniors card directory, which lists the businesses supporting the scheme, is available online and in hard copy through Access Canberra, ACT libraries and directly from COTA.
Another important initiative that this government has provided in this budget is funding for ACT Seniors Week. Seniors Week, which is also facilitated by COTA, is held in March each year and provides opportunities for older Canberrans and their families to become aware of and connect with the services they need to lead fulfilling lives. It provides seniors with a range of educational, physical, health and wellbeing events and programs, as well as open days and come-and-try activities.
The ACT Seniors Expo is held in Seniors Week and hosts more than 120 exhibitors who showcase government services, retirement and aged-care advice, community links, investment ideas and, most importantly, social and leisure activity groups. The Seniors Expo brings together service providers and older Canberrans in a way that benefits the entire community through showcasing goods and services that enhance the wellbeing of the more senior members of our community.
The number of people who are accessing the seniors card program and the Seniors Week activities is increasing over time, reflecting the increasing number of seniors living in the ACT. It is fantastic that these programs continue to attract strong interest from the community. The increase in funding to COTA for these programs is a recognition of the growing costs that are associated with a higher number of participants in the program.
The ACT government is conscious of the need for senior Canberrans to stay and feel connected. Our recent survey of people over 55 years indicated that 59 per cent of respondents preferred to source information online. For this reason the government also directly facilitates service access and information for seniors through its centralised assistance website. The website brings together up-to-date information on the full range of government concessions, services and supports; therefore, it makes it easier for people to apply.
Unfortunately, in our city there are some older Canberrans who struggle because of low fixed incomes. The ACT government is supporting the most vulnerable people in the community, including those seniors, through direct financial assistance. The
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