COTA WA

Starting life in 1959 as the old people’s welfare council of Western Australia, the change to the Western Australian Council of the Ageing in 1968 also crystallised the founding principal of valuing the contribution and lived experience of older people and the advance the rights, needs and interests of older western Australians. These principals and purpose shape the organisation to this day which is recognised as a peak body for Older Australians.

Western Australia will be home to more than one million people aged 65 and over by 2050, a projected increase of 18% of the population at 2050 from 13% now. A disproportionate number live in the Peel and agricultural regions and these numbers are growing.

We are involved in the senior’s housing strategy and have been instrumental in the formation of many incorporated bodies dealing with health, wellbeing and housing.

Such as:

• The Residential Aged Care association

• The WA Carers Association

• Seniors week

• WA community home care services group

We currently run programmes in the areas of:

• Seniors week awards and grants

• Active ageing incorporating seniors exercise (Strength for Life) and Mall Walking.

Elderly West Australians, while not always in paid employment, provide significant value to the community in childcare, caring for disabled relative or volunteer work. These rates are slightly above the national average and the contribution to the economy needs to be supported, encouraged and acknowledged.