Seniors Week to close with special thanks to Care Army

Minister for Communities and Minister for Disability Services and Seniors The Honourable Coralee O'Rourke

As Queensland Seniors Week draws to a close, Queenslanders of all ages are being encouraged to acknowledge the work of the Care Army and thank them for helping our seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To mark the end of Seniors Week, Council on the Ageing Queensland (COTAQ) and the Palaszczuk Government have designated Sunday, 23 August as We Care Day – a day to pay tribute to volunteers and the Care Army.

Minister for Seniors Coralee O’Rourke today (22 August) called on Queenslanders to show their appreciation while visiting with some Care Army volunteers in Cairns.

“Volunteers such as these hardworking Care Army volunteers working with the Cairns & District Senior Citizens Association here in Cairns have been of great assistance to seniors and our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“Tomorrow has been named We Care Day in honour of the almost 28,500 Queenslanders who signed up to be Care Army volunteers, helping our Queensland seniors stay at home and stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Right across Queensland, thousands of these volunteers helped seniors with their grocery shopping, delivered their medication and showed them how to use technology to stay connected with friends and family.

“While we might not be able to give our Care Army volunteers a hug because of COVID-19, Queenslanders can send a virtual hug to them via the Queensland Seniors Week website – https://qldseniorsweek.org.au/virtual-hug.”

In Cairns, Care Army volunteers helped the Cairns and District Senior Citizens Association re-open its doors to seniors after being closed during the height of COVID-19 restrictions in Queensland.

“These volunteers were part of getting this facility up and running again for seniors here in Cairns, which is important for helping them reconnect with their community,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“Some of these Care Army volunteers have stayed on, and continue to help with administrative and operational support activities.

“To all the Care Army volunteers out there, I’d like to say a big thank you on behalf of Queenslanders for your hard work and dedication.

“Queenslanders can still get involved in the Care Army by helping out their elderly neighbours, friends and family, or checking in on older people in their neighbourhood and asking if they need assistance.

“We are all part of a Care Army here in Queensland – and that Care Army is our community.”

/Public Release. View in full here.