Released 02/10/2018
Senior Canberrans have a high level of engagement with community activities, are helping family and friends and are able to stay connected and healthy according to the Age Friendly City Survey conducted in March and April this year.
Over 760 people completed the survey, either in printed form available at Seniors Week events or online through the YourSay Website. Eighty per cent of those who responded were over the age of 60, and 47 per cent were over the age of 70.
Minister for Seniors and Veterans Gordon Ramsay thanked those who took part in the survey for their valuable contributions.
“Canberra is growing rapidly with 7,000 new Canberrans arriving each year and 5,800 people reaching the age of 60 each year. Our city will be home to 500,000 people by 2030. It is essential to understand the needs of older Canberrans in order to make Canberra an Age Friendly City.
“Survey respondents were clear on their infrastructure needs such as housing and transport. Many want more ground level, single story, smaller-scale properties and affordable housing, including public and social housing. They want these housing options to be close to transport and amenities. They want public transport and parking readily available as well as safe walkways.
“Senior Canberrans want to be valued, treated with respect and not subject to aged based discrimination. I am very concerned that 29 per cent of respondents said they had been subject to age-based discrimination, including being made to feel invisible or underestimated, often when shopping or in the workplace. This is something I will be seeking advice about from my Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing.
“Pride in being a senior Canberran and being treated with respect is essential to Canberra being an age friendly city. Canberra is one of the best places to grow older. Our seniors are more likely to volunteer, stay employed and connected, socialise and remain active than seniors in other parts of Australia,” Minister Ramsay said.
- Statement ends -
Gordon Ramsay, MLA | Media Releases
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