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New Year Wishes 2021

NEW YEAR FRESH START

While 2021 is a chance for our world to press the refresh button after being challenged like never before, we were also reminded about the importance of community, of neighbours and of working together. We hope that part of 2020 is here to stay.

COTA SA will open the year from a new office on Level 1 at 85 Hutt Street, Adelaide. It is a fresh, bright base for our staff and volunteer team to use as our HQ as we get out and about across SA.
COTA SA will continue to champion innovation and programs that reduce the risk of isolation and loneliness among older South Australians.

COTA Visitors matches people receiving aged care who could use a friend with regular visitors while a new program, Connecting out of COVID will enable older people to learn from one another about how to get their lives back on track after the disruption of COVID and other setbacks.
2021 will see us continuing to reflect and represent the rich and diverse lives of older South Australians.

We will increase our outreach into rural SA through our programs and our volunteer champions. Our local COTA SA advisory committee in Victor Harbor and Goolwa will help us review our activities in 2020 and guide new work in 2021.

We continue to have a staff member based in the Yorke Peninsula and our Country Programs Officer will be active working with a growing number of COTA SA volunteers in the South East, Murray Mallee, mid-North and the Fleurieu, Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas.

The Rainbow Hub is growing in reach and influence guided by its Advisory Group and tackling important social policy issues while offering programs and activities to support ageing well about LGBTI elders.

The Plug-in is turning out to be the most influential community of older people anywhere in Australia and will again be called upon in 2021 to provide insights about topics like health, aged care, financial wellbeing and housing.

The new year is a great time to start or get back to physical activity through a Strength for Life class. COTA SA's partner Strength for Life gyms and centres will welcome enrolments in an increased number of locations in 2021. This year we will increase our reach to new groups with the appointment of a Cultural Diversity Officer.

Let's Talk Aged Care offers help for people to connect with the aged care that fits their needs. Our Specialist Support Worker is a whiz at helping pope to find their way around and trained, local, volunteers are now available in many country areas to offer practical support to make sense of My Aged Care.

We will continue to be very active in our policy and advocacy work in 2021. Our Policy Council has sought feedback and will focus on issues like housing, employment, health, cost of living, transport and digital access. The Climate Change Group, including working with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, will continue its work to bring attention to the importance of climate change action in 2021.

COTA SA is part of the COTA Federation and that means joining hands with colleague COTAs across the country, including with COTA Australia as it lobbies for the reform and resources required to make aged care the priority the Royal Commission has said it should be.

Our individual and club members will continue to offer important advice and feedback about our work. 2021 marks a new group of friends - our COTA SA Supporters - organisations who share our commitment to creating a contemporary view of ageing and offer tangible support to enable our independence and sustainability.

2021 also signals the start of our next strategic planning cycle. We look forward to your feedback about COTA SA from 2021-25 - what matters most, what we do well, what we should do more of and what we need to do better.

We would love to hear what your priorities are for 2021. COTA SA is an older people's movement, and we welcome comments or suggestions at any time. If you would like to contact us:
Phone: 08 8232 0422 or 1800 182 324 for Country Callers
Email: cotasa@cotasa.org.au
Postal Address: GPO Box 1583, Adelaide SA 5001

 

COTA SA acknowledges the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains as the traditional custodians of the land our headquarters occupy. We also acknowledge all Aboriginal nations throughout South Australia. We honour Aboriginal peoples’ continuing connection to Country and recognise that their sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal people.