Positive Ageing

Positive ageing embraces the idea of being active, connected, valued and respected as you grow older in your community. Health is the key factor that enables people to access the opportunities that longer life expectancy can bring. It requires action at all levels of government, and it is a local government’s role to develop a plan and coordinate efforts across the Shire, to support communities and environments that promote healthy ageing. According to the 2021 Census, the Mornington Peninsula has a significantly high percentage of residents over the age of 60 years (34.2%), compared to the Melbourne metropolitan average of 20.2% per cent. We were one of the first local governments to develop a strategy dedicated to supporting older residents. Our current strategy is the Positive Ageing Strategy 2020-2025. 

The Shire worked closely with the Peninsula Advisory Committee for Elders (PACE) to research current government policy and international best practice, and to consult with local agencies and community members to determine the needs of the peninsula’s ageing community. 

The Positive Ageing Strategy can be found at Positive Ageing Strategy - Mornington Peninsula Shire 

Current priorities in Positive Ageing across Victorian Local Councils include the following:

• Addressing ageism in the community
  Raise community awareness of the impacts of ageism and to change community attitudes
• Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (AFC)
  Create age-friendly communities.
• Healthy and Active Ageing
  Encourage participation in activities and programs and ensure facilities are accessible and accommodating of older people
• Elder Abuse Prevention
  Raising awareness of elder abuse in communities
• Building community capacity around end of life
  Creating communities which better support people to die at home and to create communities to be better able to talk about death and dying

The Positive Ageing Officer can be contacted at positiveageing@mornpen.vic.gov.au