COTA SA looks forward to vibrant conversations and a variety of ideas about ageing well through life's transitions at our flagship free event tomorrow in celebration of the United Nation’s International Day of Older Persons (IDOP) 2026.

The annual event, held this year at Adelaide Festival Centre on Wednesday, 30 September, also features as part of South Australia’s Week of Ageing Well. The day will be opened by the Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well, The Hon Katrine Hildyard MP. The event will feature five key speakers, older South Australians who have faced some of life's biggest transitions and emerged stronger, more connected, and with a renewed sense of purpose. Through a series of short, engaging talks, these speakers will share their personal reflections on loss, caregiving, retirement, family responsibilities, new love and personal reinvention, demonstrating that ageing well can take many different forms, and everyone’s journey is unique.

The morning will also include an interactive workshop inviting attendees to reflect on what matters most and identify practical actions to support their own ageing journey.

What does it mean to age well? We look forward to exploring this question through the stories, experiences and insights of older South Australians.

IDOP, on 1 October, is part of South Australia’s Week of Ageing Well, which runs from 1 - 7 October, and is a celebration of living and ageing well. The week supports a deeper understanding of what ageing well means across the state and highlighting the roles we all play in supporting each other to live and age well. For more information visit: www.dhs.sa.gov.au/weekofageingwell.