Age Friendly Communities in Small Towns

The Creating Age-Friendly Communities in Small Towns Project forms part of a holistic solution to address aged care issues across the region. It is integral to the Wheatbelt Development Commission’s support to assist local governments to implement the recommendations of the Central East Aged Care Alliance (CEACA) Aged Care Solution/s and the Wheatbelt Aged Support and Care Solutions Report. 

The Creating Age-Friendly Communities in Small Towns Project will assist the 43 local governments in the Wheatbelt to improve age friendly infrastructure by providing:

• An age friendly community planning toolbox that will include an audit tool which will identify specific age-friendly infrastructure and service gaps, a prioritisation worksheet to rank projects which would fill infrastructure gaps, and a planning guide to assist local governments to develop an age-friendly community plan;
• Funding in the form of a small grants scheme to act as a catalyst for the implementation of infrastructure projects identified in the age-friendly community planning process; and
• An integrated transport plan that will identify innovative ways to provide improved transport options for the community.

The Age Friendly Communities in Small Towns Project will be implemented over a two year period, with project rollout to occur in a staged process. 

Local Governments will soon be provided with an Information Pack and access to the Audit Toolbox. A series of workshops is planned for each sub-region and will provide a comprehensive tutorial on using the Toolbox, how to utilise it as part of the strategic planning and further information on the Small Grants Scheme. 

For more information about this Project please email Lauren Clarke on lauren.clarke@wheatbelt.wa.gov.au or call on 9881 5888.