Social Connectivity Grants to strengthen seniors’ ties to community

  • New Age-friendly Communities Social Connectivity Grants Program launched to ease the impact of COVID-19 on the connection of seniors to their communities
  • Up to $15,000 available for projects that prevent isolation amongst seniors and reduce risk of elder abuse
  • A $250,000 State Government grants program will support projects and initiatives that reconnect seniors who have experienced isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Age-friendly Communities Social Connectivity Grants Program will support

    capacity-building projects that prevent older people from experiencing isolation and reduce the risk and occurrence of elder abuse.

    Grants of up to $15,000 are available to local governments and community organisations.

    Whilst the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic were both necessary and extremely effective in curbing community transmission, unfortunately as a consequence we have seen many seniors lose connections with their communities, or find only limited opportunities to reconnect.

    The State Government’s existing Age-friendly Communities Grants Program has in the past funded local governments and community organisations in supporting age-friendly planning and implementation.

    The Social Connectivity Grants Program will maintain those broader themes of:

    • fostering an age-friendly community that recognises the diversity among older people;
    • promoting their inclusion and contribution;
    • respecting the decisions and choices of older people; and
    • anticipating and responding to age-related needs and preferences.

    Since its inception, the existing Age-friendly Communities Grants Program has contributed nearly $1 million in funding to local governments and community organisations across the State. In 2019-20 the program also included projects that promoted dementia-friendly communities.

    Grant applications close on Thursday October 8, 2020. More information can be found on the Department of Communities website at:

    https://dlgc.communities.wa.gov.au/GrantsFunding/Pages/Age-friendly-Communities-Social-Connectivity-Grants-Program.aspx

    As stated by Seniors and Ageing Minister Mick Murray:

    “The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Western Australia’s seniors cannot be overlooked.

    “It’s far too easy adopt an ‘out of sight, out mind’ attitude – but that’s simply not acceptable.

    “Western Australia has an ageing population, and we must make sure our valued seniors come through the COVID-19 pandemic retaining their connections to the community, which are now more valuable and fundamental than ever.

    “Seniors make such important contributions to our society, and with restrictions easing, the new Age-friendly Communities Social Connectivity Grants enable local governments and community organisations to work proactively so seniors are included in our communities.

    “Local governments and community organisations have historically been big drivers of promoting quality of life for seniors, and I hope they will again come to the fore while utilising this novel State Government funding program.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.