On 27 June, COTA SA hosted an event on Ramindjeri and Ngarrindjeri lands in Victor Harbor, about growing older on the Fleurieu Peninsula. Around 40 South Australians aged 50 years and over attended the event to talk about their individual experiences of ageing in the region. The event was opened by COTA SA’s Chief Executive Miranda Starke who gave an overview of COTA SA’s programs, research and policy work before the audience engaged in a workshop-style discussion about their experiences.
The event, designed to provide COTA SA with greater insight into the most joyful parts and challenges of ageing in regional South Australia, invoked rich and lively conversation with a diverse range of views and experiences shared by those who attended.
Importantly, we heard that the Fleurieu Peninsula is a great place to live for its natural environment, and supportive and friendly community. Participants spoke about the plentiful and active social groups and the importance of these connections to feel a sense of belonging to their community.
Event participants also identified some opportunities for improvement which would better enable people to age well in the region, including:
- Improved and affordable local transport options, including a regular bus service and more taxis
- Strategies to reduce social isolation and loneliness
- Greater access to information about the services and activities available in the area
- Improved access to health and care services, including GPs who bulk bill, allied health professionals, Aged Care providers, dementia and palliative care support
- Affordable and accessible housing for older people and for professionals to move into the region
- Maintaining face to face services alongside online services to allow people the choice to access services in this way
Ageing in regional South Australia being a key priority in COTA SA’s policy platform, these insights will help COTA SA to continue to build our policy platform on ageing in regional SA and generate new ideas of how to best connect with older people in the Fleurieu Peninsula.
We give special thanks to everyone, including members of the Fleurieu Neighbourhood Network, who attended the event and made it a success.
COTA SA acknowledges that our event was held on the land of the Ramindjeri and Ngarrindjeri people and pay respect to Elders, past, present, and emerging. We extend our respect to all Aboriginal people.