MANDURAH’S NEW PROJECT OFFICER ENCOURAGES ‘ACTIVE AGEING’

01-07-2008
The City of Mandurah’s commitment to ensuring the City is age friendly has been bolstered by the recent appointment of Active Ageing Project Consultant Steve Nelson, in conjunction with the Shire of Murray.

Mr Nelson is working with businesses and individuals in the Mandurah-Murray region with a focus on developing options for phased retirement, returning to work and other employment options for seniors.

Mandurah Mayor Paddi Creevey said the aim was to ensure the region met the World Health Organisation’s criteria as an Age Friendly City.

“Active Ageing is simply the process of providing opportunities for our community to remain active and healthy in later life,” Mayor Creevey said.

“Today’s longer life expectancy, coupled with declining fertility rates, is both a success story and a challenge, and this is true particularly in the Mandurah area where we have a high number of seniors in our community.

“We want to be on the front foot in ensuring our seniors can embrace fully the opportunities offered by living longer, and that the wider community doesn’t lose the incredibly valuable experience and skills our senior citizens have built up over a lifetime.”

Mr Nelson will work in conjunction with allied Transport and Disability Access projects within the region, and also develop a strategy for the implementation of a web-based skills bank and workforce registry.

For more information on the Active Ageing project, contact Steve Nelson at the City of Mandurah on 9550 3274.

RELEASE ENDS

26 June 2008

Last modified 01-07-2008 07:07 AM