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Annual Report

2014-2015

Council on the Ageing

Western Australia Inc.

COTA WA

COTA WA Annual Report 2014 - 2015

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HAT IS COTA WA AND WHAT DO WE DO?

COTA WA is:

An independent organisation run by older people for older people;

The Voice of Seniors – advocating on behalf of seniors to influence local, state and federal

government, business and the community;

A provider of programs and projects that benefit seniors, including the Seniors’ Housing Centre,

Living Longer Living Stronger, technology training, peer education and crime and safety talks;

A member organisation providing benefits to individual and organisational members including

the Ambassador Card, COTA Maintenance, ‘ONECOTA’ magazine and free or reduced prices to

attend our events;

An incorporated, non-profit, charitable, deductible gift recipient organisation governed by an

elected Board, managed and run by professional staff, and supported by the generous

contributions of many volunteers;

Recognised by the State and Federal Governments as the peak seniors’ organisation in Western

Australia;

A member of COTA Australia, an organisation that brings together all State and Territory COTA’s.

Nationally, we:

Assist and resource the COTA Australia National Policy Council in the key areas of policy

development, information dissemination and resource development.

Collect, interpret and disseminate information within the COTA network and to interested

external individuals and organisations.

As the peak non-government seniors’ organisation in Western Australia, COTA WA is widely

respected for its policy and program work. Our submissions to government have resulted in a

number of significant improvements in services for seniors in recent times.

COTA WA is a uniquely inclusive organisation. Unlike mass membership organisations who lobby

solely for their members, we seek to promote the interests of all older Australians, irrespective of

their origin, situation or background.

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COTA WA Annual Report 2014-2015

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Our Vision

An equitable, just and inclusive society in which older people can flourish.

Our Purpose

To advance the rights, needs and interests of older Western Australians.

Our Key Values

Integrity

Respect

Inclusiveness

Impartiality

Excellence

Our Principles

Valuing the contribution and lived experience of older people in all their diversity: consulting

and acting on the advice of older people; engaging older people in all aspects of our

organisation.

Teamwork and co-operation: being respectful, ethical and cohesive; being committed and

prepared to work hard to maintain the full involvement of all parts of the COTA federation for

the common good of our constituents.

Vision and Optimism: being enthusiastic: being creative and forward looking, prepared to

think laterally and constructively.

Leadership and Action: taking united action, providing unbiased advocacy and leadership for

older people whilst having measurable and accountable outcomes.

Quality and Efficiency: having planned, systematic, evidence based and best practice

approaches to all that we do.


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Our People

Patron:

Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AO, Governor of Western Australia

Honorary Life Members

Mrs. Bettine Heathcote AM, Beryl Allen

President Judy Hogben

Vice President Bettine Heathcote AM

Executive Members Gerri Clay, John Hanley

Directors

Lilly Cvijic

Marie Moloney

Shelley Whitaker

Hon. R. Kucera APM, JP

Robert Raisbeck

Chief Executive Ken Marston

Finance Committee

John Hanley (Chair)

Judy Hogben

Robert Raisbeck

Ron Regan

Ken Marston

Auditors Macri Partners


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Policy Committee

Bettine Heathcote (Chair)

Bob Raisbeck (Board Member, COTA WA)

Ron Lullfitz (WARVRA)

Bob Ziegler (Past Board Member, COTA WA)

Lyneve Cannon (Community Rep)

Dean Beissel (Carers WA)

Shirley Wyburn (Community Rep)

June Lowe (GRAE)

Gary Triffit (University of the Third Age, UWA)

Megan Ellis (Minutes Secretary)

Chris Jeffery (Policy Officer, COTA WA)

Ken Marston (CE)

Richard Gates (Mens Sheds)

Ann Zubrick (Past Board Member, COTA WA)

Jacinta Sartori (DLGC)

Staff

Chief Executive Ken Marston

Active Ageing Manager Phil Airey

Finance and Administration Officer Flyura Pak

Policy Officer Chris Jeffery

Project Officer Jane Newsome

Project Officer Marlene Robins

SHC Community Education Officer Diane Marks

SHC Community Education Officer John Millar


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Volunteers

The projects and programs conducted by COTA WA would not be possible without the hard work and

generosity of our many volunteers. Our administration volunteers undertake a wide range of tasks

including - answering telephones and assisting callers with their enquiries, greeting people as they

arrive at the office, processing daily mail and event registrations, organising computer lessons,

supporting staff with day to day procedures and many more invaluable tasks.

Administration Volunteers

Pat Billett

Erin Borgfeldt

Alison Cholajda

Kaye Douglas

Shanti Guda

Margaret Han

Elaine Hardy

Jeannette Monteiro

Edith Pedersen

Judy Willson

Computer Class Teachers

Roger Vella Bonavita

Liz Stafford

John Stephens

Peter Fox

Alexey Gunyakov

In addition, special mention to: Kaye Douglas who coordinates weekly computer class bookings and takes care of monthly donation

receipts sent out to members;

Megan Ellis who gives PA assistance to the CEO and executes minutes of meetings; Elaine Hardy who supports LLLS™, processes Seniors Week Grants and other events with data entries; Jeannette Monteiro, Edith Pederson, Megan Ellis and Elaine Hardy who look after registration at our

AGM, Conferences, Forums, as well as other seminars throughout the year.

And some other volunteers who have kindly helped us in a variety of ways:


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Lyneve Cannon

Georgy Hawden

Mellissa Garcia Marin

Candice Grigg

Olga Bykova

Ganesh Nayak Our new Mall Walking Project has given us an opportunity to recruit 30 new Volunteers to provide support to seniors participating in Mall Walking groups. We thank and acknowledge our volunteers for their hard work and commitment to COTA Western Australia.

Vale Clare Zilko

It was with sadness that we received news of the passing of COTA (WA) life member, Clare Zilko in

early 2015. Clare was made a Director in 1984 and Vice President in 1987 until her retirement in

1991.

In 1995 Clare ws awarded Honorary Life Membership in recognition of her extraordinary

commitment to our association, during which time she was known as “Cyclone Clare’.

In 2009 Clare was honoured once again at our 50th anniversary celebration, which was attended by

our Patron, Sir Ken Michael, Governor of Western Australia.

Clare’s achievements are too many to detail here, but she was perhaps best known for her

establishment and management of COTA’s Retirement Education Service, and activity which persists

in 2015 – a telling tribute to Clare’s foresight.

Vice President, Bettine Heathcote, and CEO, Ken Marston, paid COTA’s respects to Clare and her

family at the funeral service, at which Archbishop Hickey officiated.


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Organisational Members

Advocare Inc Albany Public Library Albany Region Over 50's Recreation Association (Inc) Alzheimer's Australia WA Ltd Amaroo Village Armadale Home Help Moorditj Services BaptistCare Inc. Bayswater Bridge Club Bayswater Senior Citizens Association Inc. Beverley Community Resource Centre Inc Bos Architects

Braemar Presbyterian Care Bridgetown - Greenbushes Recreation Centre Brightwater Care Group Brookton Men's Shed Inc. Busselton Senior Citizens Centre Care Options Inc Champion Lakes Boating Club (CLBC) Chung Wah Community Aged Care Citizens Advice Bureau City of Armadale City of Bayswater City of Canning

City of Cockburn City of Fremantle City of Gosnells

City of Stirling City of Subiaco City of Subiaco (Community Services) City of Swan City of Swan (Library Services) City of Wanneroo Collie Adult Day Centre Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centre CommunityWest Continence Advisory Service of WA Inc

Craigcare Dale Cottages (Inc) Denmark Over 50's Association Inc East Pilbara Independence Support Inc Goomalling Community Resource Centre Gosnells Women's Health Service Greenbushes Community Resource Centre Hall & Prior Aged Care Organisation (Varna Pty Ltd / Fresh Fields) Harvey Recreation and Cultural Centre Inc


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Health Consumers' Council

Historical Society of Cockburn Independent Living Centre of WA (Inc) Injury Control Council of WA (Inc) Ishar Multicultural Womens's Health Centre Italian Age Care Incorporated Jewish Care WA (Inc) Juniper / ex. Uniting Church Homes Kalbarri Senior Citizens Group Inc Koorda Community Resource Centre Inc. Kununurra Neighbourhood House Family Support Services Lawley Park Residents Management Advisory Committee Leading Age Services Australia - WA (previously Aged Care Association Australia WA)

LINKWEST INC Manning Senior Citizens Centre Inc Maylands Autumn Club Inc

Meath Care (Inc) Medicare Local Perth South Coastal Melville Cares Inc Men's Advisory Network Merredin Community Resource Centre Merredin Senior Centre (Inc.) Moora HACC & Moora Seniors Group Mt Laverna Retirement Village (Inc) Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA (Inc)

Mundaring Sharing Incorporated National Council of Women WA Nedlands Community Care Northam Heritage Forum Older Women's Network (WA) Inc. Park Home Owners Assoc WA Inc Parkinson's Western Australia Inc Peel Seniors Net Association. Pty Ltd People Who Care Prime Timers Western Australia Relacs Retired Teachers' Association Retirement Village Association of WA

Rise Community Network Rod Evans Community Centre Rosewood Care Group Royal Australian Air Force (WA Div) Inc Senior Citizens Welfare Association (Inc) Senior Living Today Shire of Augusta Margaret River Shire of Capel Shire of Kellerberrin


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Shire of Lake Grace Shire of Victoria Plains

SOS - Supporting Our Seniors & Disabled Inc Southcare Inc Southern Cross Community Resource Centre Super Tuesday Whitfords Church of Christ Seniors Tambellup Communicty Resource Centre TAPSS Community Care Inc. The Bethanie Group The Centre for Cerebal Palsy The Spiers Centre Inc Toodyay Community Resource Centre Town of Narrogin, Narrogin Homecare Umbrella Multicultural Community Care Services Inc University of the Third Age (UWA) Inc

Volunteer Task Force Inc WA Genesis Community Outreach Inc WA Retirement Village Residents Association Inc (WARVRA) Walridge Village Residents' Association WANSLEA Waroona Community Resource Centre Inc Western Australian Council of Social Service - WACOSS Wickepin Community Resource Centre Wyndham Family Support Inc.

To all our organisational members:

for your support.


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President’s Report

Hon Tony Simpson MLA and Judy Hogben

(Photo courtesy of Have A Go News)

2014-2015 marked a return to COTA WA’s birthplace – Victoria Park, where we were founded in

1959. Given this, it is timely to reflect on the long and proud history of our organisation, some details

of which are included in this Annual Report. But of far more importance than the past, is who we are,

and where we are going today. It’s that combination of being proud of our past and knowing who we

are and where we are going that assures COTA WA of a strong future.

I like to think that COTA WA “walks the talk”. We are the vibrant and energetic organisation that we

always have been, and ever shall be. COTA WA continues to make a vital contribution to today’s

society; we are progressive, forward thinking and far from ready to move into retirement!

We remain the visionary, values based and principled organisation that COTA WA has been

since its foundation;

We explicitly identify as a human rights organisation;

Our principles demonstrate that we work not for but with older people in all their diversity;

We believe in evidence based policy and program work;

We are comfortable with the mixed roles of peak body and service delivery;

We believe in efficiency and economy – we can tell you all you need to know about COTA WA

(or at least most of it), on the single sheet of A3 paper on which you will find our Strategic

Plan..

To a great extent, that’s same old, same old – it is an expression of what we’ve always been – so

what’s new and what can you expect from COTA WA in future? Our Strategic Plan 2015-2018,

outlines our strategic objectives and key actions. In essence COTOA WA as the peak body for all

older Western Australians will be working with our staff, seniors, government and other partners,

business and community to create; a stronger community , one that better recognises and values


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seniors and their contribution and has appropriate and responsive services for seniors. We will also

be working to ensure that we are a strong and well governed organisation. Specifically, we will be:

Placing greater emphasis on partnership and collaboration;

Diversifying our funding base and become more “business like” or entrepreneurial;

Move to a supporter base rather than a member base;

Enhancing our consumer and community engagement;

Continuing to develop capacity at every level to ensure that we have the skills to meet the

challenges of the future.

I thank my fellow Directors, the staff and volunteers who make it all happen, and I thank you, our

members and friends for being here today, please join me in acknowledging and celebrating this

great organisation to which you belong and of which I am proud to be President.

Judy Hogben

President

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Chief Executive’s Report

Seniors’ housing continued as a major focus of our work in 2014- 2015. The Seniors Housing Centre

was refunded in August 2014 with some variation of the contract specifications, and we launched the

Lotterywest funded Security of Tenure for the Ageing Population in Western Australia report in

November.

Our Active Ageing portfolio, which embraces Living Longer Living Stronger (LLLS) and Mall Walking

continued to be our second major focus area for the year. Regrettably, we were unsuccessful in

obtaining ongoing funding for LLLS. Although the Health Department provided three months’

transitional funding, we find ourselves in the position where we have a widely acclaimed and

successful evidence based program which has proven health benefits and wide acceptance in the

community that we may have to terminate in 2015-2016 as we cannot afford to support it from

internal resources. However, we hope that our sponsorship prospectus may succeed in attracting

financial support for the program.

Community education and information services continue as a third major area of activity. The

Controlling My Own Life: Making the Most of Consumer Directed Care (CDC) peer education program

commenced in August 2014. As the aged care reform process continues, this program will assist

consumers to adapt to the opportunities that CDC presents. Seniors Card and Active Ageing

Information sessions were delivered under contract to the Department of Local Government and

Communities. We also continued to deliver retirement planning and education services as well as

computer and IT training to seniors.

Senior Australian of the Year 2014, Fred Chaney AO, honoured us with his address following our

Annual General Meeting in October. The Hon Bob Kucera stood down as President following the


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AGM, having completed 3 years in office and was succeeded by Judy Hogben. Bob remains a

Director.

The 2014 WA Seniors Awards Gala Ceremony, held at the UWA Club in November 2014, was a great

success, and we continued our involvement in Seniors Week 2014 through the Seniors Week

Community Grants Program which funded over 80 Seniors Week events.

Policy work continued throughout the year at both State and national levels. Nationally, the Hands

Off the Pension Campaign and continued aged care reform activity dominated the year, while on the

State level, concessions were a major issue, with the effects of the Federal Governments’ unilateral

withdrawal from the national concessions agreement following the 2014 Federal budget and the

State Government’s refusal to fund the shortfall, unlike other State governments. This was followed

by reductions in concessions in the 2015 State Budget, some of which will be felt in 2016 and

beyond.

We continue to have a positive and cooperative relationship amongst the State and Territory COTA’s,

and with COTA Australia. The COTA Federation remains strong and vibrant, serving the needs of all

older Australians at both State/Territory and Federal levels.

As is the case for many organisations, we are rethinking our approach to membership, both

nationally and at the State level. COTA Membership Services ceased operations on June 30 this year

and individual membership servicing has been taken over by Insurance and Membership Services,

with the current member offering continuing for at least 2015-2016.

In between times, we located new office premises and moved in with minimal disruption to our daily

work Given that moving house is said to be one of life’s most stressful activities, we coped well– a

tribute to the flexibility and adaptability of our staff and volunteers.

My thanks to our hard working Directors who have provided excellent leadership over the year – in

particular for your work on the Strategic Plan – another 2014-2015 achievement - to staff and

volunteers who make all this possible, day by day and to you, our members and friends, who make it

all worthwhile.

Ken Marston

Chief Executive

Rally at Perth Town Hall, June2014


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Financial Report

Our audited financial statements are available separately.

Financially, we continue to prudently manage the funds that we have while not attaining the growth

of income that we would all like to see. In 2014-2015 we had a small deficit due to office relocation

expenses – which we achieved at remarkably low cost. Given the demise of Health Department

funding for Living Longer Living Stronger during the financial year, which the Board regards as too

valuable a program to abandon without seeking every alternative, the deficit is acceptable even

though undesirable. However, funding for Living Longer Living Stronger remains a major risk to our

2015-2016 budget as the program is unsupportable in its present form without external funding.

Board and Finance Committee will be monitoring this closely in the first half of 2015-2016.

Our Business Plan for this financial year will see the continuation of the projects, programs and

activities that seniors value. We have contracts in place for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 that will

maintain a reasonable level of income over that period. We plan for a small surplus in 2015-2016.

Like most seniors, we suffer somewhat in terms of interest received when interest rates are low. Our

reserves remain conservatively invested, with a similarly conservative return.

The annual strategic review and ongoing finance committee discussions are reflected in our Strategic

Plan 2015-2018. We have focussed on the need to increase our capacity, diversify and increase

funding streams, and develop and maintain a strong and diverse supporter base.

We continue to seek new opportunities for growth that will enable us to achieve our Vision and

Purpose. This will require innovative and creative thinking when continued government stringency

makes grant seeking increasingly competitive; business conditions do not favour sponsorship; and

new business development opportunities are risky in the current economic environment.

Nevertheless, COTA Western Australia maintains its tradition of achievement despite financial

constraints and we will continue to do so

The Board recommends appointment of Macri Partners as auditors for 2015-2016.

John Hanley

Chair

Finance Committee


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Programs and Projects

Active Ageing

Living Longer Living Stronger

Living Longer Living Stronger now operates in 55 sites across Western Australia (19 Tier 1 Exercise

Physiologist/Physiotherapist services and 36 Tier 2 Fitness services and 2 additional Tier 3 mobile

Exercise Physiologists). We expanded into new sites in 2014/2015 – with Tier 1 services successfully

launching at Jetts Bassendean, Quality of Life Health Care in Osborne Park, REPS Movement in East

Fremantle, Seaside Exercise Physiology in Butler, and The Health and Fitness Centre in Kingsley.

While new Tier 2 Centres opened at Kingsway Indoor Stadium and Platform Crossfit in North Perth,

they remained only for the duration of 2014/2015 year. Two other Living Longer Living Stronger

Providers were farewelled at the end of the financial year – Body 2 Soul Fitness in Maylands and

Aubin Grove Physiotherapy.

Working Seniors’ Tier

Demand from Seniors engaged in the workforce and unable to attend regular Living Longer Living

Stronger classes led to the creation of the Working Seniors Tier, implemented at 35 Tier Two

providers in March 2015. Participating Seniors obtain a GP clearance and have a personalised

program created for them using their full medical and prescription history, then join the facilities as

regular members. Given Western Australia’s ageing population and the impact of sedentary

behaviours in one’s later working life, this measure may be an important service provision of

preventative health.

Pricing changes

Living Longer Living Stronger had not indexed its prices for three years. Many Tier 1 providers (with

higher wage costs for Exercise Physiologists and Physiotherapists) reported their delivery of services

at $8 per Senior per session to be unsustainable. In consultation with our Providers, these prices

were reviewed. In practice, only the Physiotherapist level of Tier 1 have increased their prices to the

full new session cap of $12 (for Pensioner Concession Card holders); while Exercise Physiologist Tier 1

providers have universally kept their prices at $10 or below. While the session cap for Tier 2 was

raised to $10 – all non-Exercise Physiologist Providers kept beneath the previous cap of $8. We are

very heartened at the commitment of our Providers to accessibility of the program for the Seniors’

community.

HBF coverage

From 1 April 2015, HBF now offers full Assessment and Session coverage for both Tier 1 and Tier 2 of

the service to a capped amount (depending on client cover). This stemmed from discussions during

2014/2015 about program and member coverage, and is a first for the program.

Refreshing all web, promotional, participant and provider materials

Following our move to the Perron Centre, all web, promotional and participant materials have been

refreshed and updated to not only reflect the new address and details, but to reflect their current

usage, business structure and best practice.


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Training + Refresher Training (Fitness Australia resubmission + Gerry Brown)

The Living Longer Living Stronger Instructor training course was resubmitted to Fitness Australia and

accredited as of September 2014. This process included substantial modernisation and referencing.

46 Instructors completed accreditation in four sessions. 17 Tier 2 Instructors completed the specialist

Refresher Training course (in its second year of operation). 2014 Innovation Award winner Gerry

Brown joined the team of presenters this year.

Healthways Research project

A landmark research collaborative project entitled “Improving Community Participation In Strengthening Programs For Older People” was funded by Healthways in late 2014. In conjunction with Curtin University, Silver Chain and COTA – this project aims to identify motivations for involvement in progressive strength training programs, particularly Living Longer Living Stronger. Of 1,130 distributed to COTA members, 49.6% sent responses. Of 1,560 surveys sent to LLLS Participants, around 45% have returned. Around 30% is considered an excellent response rate to optional questionnaires of this form. Further phases of research continue into 2015/2016.

Mall Walking

COTA completed its first full year of Mall Walking administration in 2014/2015 – with 619 Seniors

registered for this free, social, volunteer led activity. A major rewrite of all promotional and training

materials occurred, with new Walk Leader Training held in February. We also added Cockburn

Gateway Shopping Centre in March 2015. Armadale Shopping City and Stockland Bullcreek Shopping

Centre chose to discontinue their service at the end of 2014/2015. Successful launches and events

were held at Garden City Shopping Centre, Karrinyup Shopping Centre, Belmont Forum and Cockburn

Gateway. We are thankful for the excellent support of the Centre Management and our Walk

Leaders, without whom this program would not be possible.

Active Seniors Festival

In November 2014, the first Active Seniors festival was run – incorporating the Living Longer Living

Stronger Excellence Awards. A free event at the Perth Cultural Centre incorporating AV content,

displays by the WA Disabled Sports Association, participatory classes in Living Longer Living Stronger,

and food provided by LiveLighter, it was attended by over 130 patrons.

Media Coverage

Active Ageing continues to draw significant favourable news coverage in The West Australian and

other media outlets (notably Have-A-Go news and local newspapers such as The Echo, and statewide

radio). In addition, our Living Longer Living Stronger facebook page now has over 200 followers, and

a promoted post regarding the Active Seniors’ Festival reached over 5,000 people. Our quarterly

Active Ageing newsletter continues to expand in scope, with the recent Winter edition reaching over

2,000 people and featuring 21 articles of coverage of program details. Active Ageing content also has

featured in the October/November 2014, February/March 2015, April/May 2015 and June/July 2015

editions of the national OneCOTA magazine.

Active Ageing Volunteers

Active Ageing volunteers continue to help COTA achieve its aims – we are very grateful to have Olga

Bykova (Mall Walking) and Ganesh Nayak (Living Longer Living Stronger) making valuable

contributions in the COTA office. We farewelled Melissa Garcia in 2014, who made invaluable


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contributions to administration of the Mall Walking project. Mall Walking itself is administered at the

Centres by volunteer Walk Leaders, with 36 registered volunteers assisting during 2014/2015.

Active Ageing Prospectus

Following consultation with the Centre for Cerebral Palsy, a sponsorship prospectus was created to

enable private sponsorship of COTA’s Active Ageing programs. As well as providing opportunities for

likeminded organisations to become involved in our successful Seniors’ programs, it will open further

avenues of financial support of our administration. Intrinsic to this is the development of our

Business Services Directory, which will showcase Seniors’ friendly and supporting organisations.

Peer Education Programs

Controlling My Own Life: Making the Most of Consumer Directed Care (CDC)

Session delivery for the CDC peer education program commenced in August 2014, providing free

information to seniors around the recent changes in delivery of home care packages.

The following people were active in the program:

STAFF: Jane Newsome

PEER EDUCATORS: Agnelo D’Souza, Roberta Gripton, Maureen Holmes, Jen Stewart, Pat Zanetti, Bob

Ziegler

A total of 46 sessions were presented to more than 1200 participants. Groups ranged in size from 5 –

70 and included a diverse range of group types (eg. Mens Sheds, Retirees Groups, Support Groups,

Retirement Villages, Church groups, Day Centres). Four sessions were to CaLD groups (Italian,

Vietnamese and Dutch).

The program coordinator, Jane Newsome, attended a Consumer Engagement Workshop in

Melbourne during September 2014, and coordinator update training in Adelaide during February

2015.

Funding for this project is provided by the Australian Government, Department of Social Services

(Aged Care Service Improvements and Healthy Ageing Grants), and managed through COTA Australia.

Seniors Awards

Funded by the Department of Local Government and Communities and Lotterywest, COTA WA took

the lead role in organizing the 2014 Seniors Awards, including organizing distribution of nomination

kits, collection and collation of nominations, overseeing the judging panels and organizing the gala

ceremony a the UWA Club.

STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS: Marlene Robins, Edith Pedersen

Seniors’ Week 2014 Community Grants Program

COTA WA obtained funding from the Department of Local Government and Communities and

Lotterywest to support many and varied events during Seniors Week 2014. 175 grant applications


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were received with 101 being successful. More than $85,000 was distributed as grants ranging from

$245 - $3000, to support events across the state, with a particular focus on events aimed at seniors

who would not normally participate in Seniors’ Week activities, who were at risk of becoming

socially isolated, or who were members of Indigenous or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

communities.

STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS: Jane Newsome, Elaine Hardy

COTA Connections

The COTA WA e-newsletter, COTA Connections was distributed monthly. The subscriber list

continued to grow and is now in excess of 1800 addresses.

STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS: Jane Newsome, Candice Grigg

Crime and Safety

Seniors’ safety remains a priority for COTA WA, and we continue to provide information to assist

older people to remain safe in their homes and the community.

In June 2013, a grant of $10,000 was received from the W.A. Police – Strategic Crime Prevention

Division for the safety message to be delivered to 1,000 seniors throughout the metropolitan area

during 2013-2014. These talks will include information on Safety, Elder Abuse presented by

Advocare, Identity Theft and Internet Crime presented by Edith Cowan University’s School of

Computer and Security Science, plus a presentation from the local government of that area on their

crime prevention strategies. Despite the cessation of funding, we continued to deliver some crime

and safety talks pending a further funding round. In June 2014 we received notification offunding

under the confiscation of criminal assets program to run a cyber crime prevention program which will

commence in September 2015.

STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS: Marlene Robins, David Cook

Seniors Card and Active Ageing Information Talks

The Department of Local Government and Communities contracted COTA WA to deliver Seniors Card

and Active Ageing Information talks during 2014-2015. In the metropolitan area, 39 talks were

presented, with a further 6 in regional areas.

We attended 3 Expos at which Seniors Card and Active Ageing materials were made available.

A total of 1769 people attended the presentations as a result of extensive advertising and

promotional activities which we undertook during the period. The number of contacts at Expos is

unknown, but we experienced heavy traffic at all of them and distributed all the show bags that were

available.


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STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS: Marlene Robins, Len Rathman, Ann Kennish.

Retirement Seminars

We continue to provide talks to pre-retirees who are members of superannuation funds, including

GESB, Catholic Super and Australian Super as well as providing workshops to staff in workplaces. In

2014-2015 we presented four, half day retirement planning sessions to Department of Commerce

staff.

Feedback from attendees is pleasingly positive and this is an area of work that we look forward to

developing further as the baby boomer cohort approached retirement. A highlight of the retirement

planning sessions is the “panel of retirees” whose experience of retirement is invaluable to those

who are yet to retire. Our thanks to Bettine Heathcote, Bob Ziegler, John Stephens and others who

made guest appearances at these workshops as well as Jane Figgis and Kenny Annand who

generously supported this activity and provided their time and wisdom.

STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS: Ken Marston and Bob Ziegler

Seniors’ Housing Centre

Following a period of uncertainty of continuation of the service, the Seniors’ Housing Centre (SHC)

was delivered a reprieve by further funding from the W.A. State Government. Funding was obtained

from the Department of Commerce and, Department of Local Government and Communities from

the beginning of the 2014-2015 financial year. The new contract is for a further three years.

Some small disruption to the service was experienced with staff being made redundant however

both, Diane Marks and John Millar, were re-employed a week later.

John Millar and Diane Marks promoting the Seniors’ Housing Centre and COTA WA at a Seniors Expo

(Photo courtesy of Seniors Recreation Council)

As a result of the new contract the focus of the work of the COTA WA SHC changed slightly insomuch

as COTA WA’s SHC increased its role as a community education provider and, that this was to cover

all of Western Australia. Subsequently a new implementation plan was drawn up which reflected

this. The Centre staff continued to receive and attend to telephone calls, emails and personal

appointments from seniors.


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Our community education seminar topics for the year

2014-2015 included:

1. Making Informed Housing Decisions

2. Retirement Villages and Residential Parks

3. Modifying Your Home

4. Downsizing – A Field Guide

5. Alternative Options to Owning a Home

6. Reverse Mortgages and Accessing Equity

7. Downsizing to Strata Title Living

In addition two new talks were prepared for offer to the public and clubs:

Home Maintenance: Some of the issues that will be covered: home maintenance keeps your

home safe; helps maintain your independence and sustain your investment. Dealing with

tradespeople and businesses, safety and security, independent living devices and where to

get further information

Building and Buying including a Granny Flat: Looking at this concept as a refresher seminar,

things to consider, pluses and minuses, ‘Universal Design’ and sustainable principles, choosing a

builder, plus and minuses of granny flats, resources and where to get help. Seminars have been

delivered around the Perth Metro area at a number of venues with a regular booking at the

Citiplace Community Centre supported by the City of Perth. In addition, following the new

direction of the Centre, seminars have been delivered in:

Ravenswood

Dunsborough

Mandurah

Rockingham

Bunbury

Margaret River

Perenjori

Harvey

Darkan

SHC staff, under the guidance of the CEO, prepared and submitted contributions for reviews of

Caravan Park & Camping Ground Act and Residential Parks Act.

In addition SHC attended numerous seniors’ expos and events notably co-operating with a number of

councils’ meeting seniors and promoting the Centre. Functions attended included those for WA

Retirement Villages Residents Assoc. and the Park Homes Owners Association. The Centre continues

to work with its counterparts at the Department of Commerce (Consumer Protection) Seniors’

Housing Centre and regularly meets and communicates with their staff.

SHC staff is currently working on a condensed television program of its popular seminar ‘Making

Informed Housing Decisions’ with Westlink Television, the State Government television station that

transmits programs via satellite to W.A. regions. It is planned that this program will go to air in

August with transmission on ‘YouTube’ following. This will enable country seniors to see what their


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City counterparts have available plus having the information available to anyone who can access the

Internet.

SHC STATISTICS

Type of contact 2014-2015

Total Telephone 351

Total Email 57

Total Counter 73

Total Presentations attendees 1838

Total Events attendees 739

Total of all contacts 3058

The Seniors’ Housing Centre, in its fourth year of operation, continues to help thousands of seniors to

make better decisions about their housing futures.

Policy Report

Staff: Chris Jeffery occupies the Policy Officer position one day a

week, Lyneve Cannon and Megan Ellis assist as volunteers. Ken

Marston contributes to policy submissions and representations.

Policy development

The WA Policy Council has restructured its operations from

February 2015 to ensure a closer alignment with the policy

priorities of the COTA WA Board. It focuses on five major areas

with working parties involved in each of these areas:

Housing

Aged care funding/costs

Retirement incomes

Mental health/health/disability

Costs of utilities

The Council engaged in discussion/examination of the following areas. Outcomes of these discussions

resulted in contributions to reports, discussion papers or enquiries

Health care ramifications of deeming for renewal of the Health Care Card

The effects of the aged care reforms on providers (ongoing)

Issues around Medicare co-payments

Issues around transparency of administration fees in Home Care packages

Issues concerning carers such as aging, disability

Response to the Community Development and Justice Standing Committee inquiry into the

Policy Implications of an Ageing Community

Review of Caravan and Camping Grounds and Residential Parks Long Stay Tenants Act

Age discrimination

The operation of the HACC program in WA and its interface with the broader LLLB reforms


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Issues for People from CALD backgrounds

Age friendly cities and communities

The National Disability Insurance Scheme

The UN Convention on the rights of older people

Aged care reform package

Events

COTA hosted or participated in a number of Fora between November 2014 and October 2015

including:

Ongoing meetings of the Age Friendly Communities Network Forum

Launch of Seniors Housing Tenure research findings ( December 2014)

Mental Health Roundtable (to develop a response to the State government’s draft Mental

Health Services Plan 2015 – 2025) (February 2015)

Seniors Housing: Choices and Costs (April 2015)

Housing Vulnerability: lessons from Europe and Australia (with Professor Anthea Tinker from

Kings College, London) (May 2015)

Aged Care Made Easy Forum (in conjunction with the City of Gosnells and the City of Canning)

(October2015)

National Policy Forum on Gender and Ageing was held in Canberra July 2015 and attracted a

capacity audience

Research

Continuing research in the area of employment of older people to progress an initiative COTA

WA hopes to undertake. A funding submission to the Perpetual Foundation was rejected and

we are now investigating a cost-neutral option.

Research into legislative issues affecting seniors’ housing tenure being conducted by

Professor Eileen Webb from UWA (LotteryWest funded)

Participation rates and obstacles to participation in progressive strength training exercises

(with Curtin University and Silver Chain)

Identification of common scams affecting older people and reasons for older people

succumbing to them (undertaken by a volunteer)

Engagement

Participation in WACOSS emerging issues forum

Participation in WACOSS Peaks Forum

Attendance at Seniors Ministerial Advisory Council meetings

Attendance at DHS Health & Older Australians Disabilities & Carers Consultative Forum

Continuation of Seniors Alliance meetings

Discussions with Fair Go for Pensioners Coalition WA

Attendance at Housing Advisory Round table meetings.

Attendance at Community Reference Group Breastscreen WA

Attendance at Department of Human Services Consultative Forum on Health & Older

Australians Disability and Carers


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Liaison with Shelter WA and other housing organisations including the Community Housing

Coalition, St Bartholomew’s (homeless men’s service), Tenants Advice Service, WA

Retirement Complexes Residents’ Association and Park Home Owners’ Association.

Participation in Elder Abuse Marketing Working Party

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The History of COTA Western Australia - Some Highlights

1959

Old People’s Welfare Council of Western Australia established following 1958 creation of a

national body.

1961 The ‘Golden Age Visiting Service’ – for lonely elderly, using volunteer visitors.

1961 The first ‘Old People’s Week’ (forerunner of ‘Seniors’ Week’).

1962

Created and circulated a “Schedule of ‘C’ Class Hospitals” (nursing homes) for doctors and

family members.

1966

Held convention in Perth Town Hall and argued for government sponsored home aid service

for the aged. Also for lifting or abolition of retirement age.

1967 Established a committee on ‘Accommodation for the Frail Elderly’.

Encouraged establishment of Senior Citizens’ Centres at, for example, Bunbury and Waroona.

Established library specifically for literature on aged.

1968

Old People’s Welfare Council of Western Australia became Western Australian Council on the

Ageing.

1971 Established a ‘Pre-retirement Council’ (forerunner of the WA Retirement Education Service).

1974

Established the “Residential Aged Care Association” which became Aged Care Western

Australia Incorporated (now Aged & Community Services Western Australia Inc)

Production of “Directory of Services for Older People”.


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1977 Established three Carers’ Support Groups in Perth (Selby, Cannington and Fremantle).

1978-

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In conjunction with the Uniting Church, established Trinity School for Seniors.

1982 Initiated and sponsored 6NR’s Aged Concern Radio programme.

1984 Successfully involved Government in the resumption of an annual “Seniors’ Week”.

1985

Brought “University of the Third Age” concept to WA and assisted (1986) the setting up of

U3A (UWA).

1986

Published the report “Concerns and Issues Related to WA Retirement Villages and the Need

for Legislation” from which the Retirement Villages Act (1992) originated.

1987 Initiated monthly Seniors’ Forums.

1988

Created “Community Based Home Care Services Group” later incorporated as “WA Network

of Community Based Home Care Services”

1989 Initiated, sponsored and then separately incorporated the Older Persons Rights Service.

1991

Initiated the steering committee charged with establishing WA Retirement Complexes

Residents’ Association Incorporated.

Initiated, sponsored and then separately incorporated the WA Carers’ Network.

1992

In conjunction with the Advisory Council to the Minister for Seniors, held public consultations

as a contribution to the State Strategy on Ageing.

Extensive consultations conducted with Aboriginal and ethnic elders in North West and

Metropolitan regions.

Initiated, sponsored (for separate incorporation) the Intergenerational Activity Network of

WA. Later to become the Intergenerational Advisory Network.

1993 Published a resource kit for ethnic seniors “Options and Services for Ethnic Seniors”.

Formally inaugurated the COTA Mandurah (Peel Region) Branch.

Convened (at Karratha) the first meeting of the Pilbara Seniors Council Steering Committee.


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1994

With WA Council of Social Services, facilitated the establishment of a sector network,

‘Community Organisations for Older People’ (CO-OP).

Sponsored the COTA(WA) ‘Senior’s Education Association’

Established the School Volunteer Program with a Grant from the Gordon Reid Foundation for

Youth and the Lotteries Commission.

1995

Awarded Certificate of Merit by the Australian Violence Prevention Awards for COTA’s Elder

Abuse Prevention Program.

1996

Launch of the COTA Seniors Technology Centre with funds provided by Lotteries Commission

for purchase of the necessary equipment and a seeding grant from Office of Seniors

Interests.

1997 Award of Contract to run Seniors Week in 1997 and 1998

Established Interim Steering Committee for Coalition ’99 International Year of Older Persons.

Launch of Elder Protection Protocol for Government Agencies.

1998 Awarded Lotteries Grant for Phase I Expansion of Offices.

Awarded Grant for the Elder Protection Pilot Project.

Launch of COTA(WA) Website.

1999 Awarded Contract to Run Seniors Week 1999.

Launch of the 1999/2001 Strategic Plan for COTA(WA).

2000 Launch of COTA(WA) www Policy Bulletin Board

Presentation at the 2000 Fulbright Symposium on the digital divide

2001

The Seniors Technology Centre became a Registered Training Organisation with 10 nationally

accredited computer courses.

Policies identified in pre budget submission incorporated into Government Policy

Awarded Lotteries Grant for Phase II Expansion of offices


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2002 Completed Office refurbishment and expansion

Organised over 500 volunteers for the 6th Global Conference on Ageing

2003 Received funding to provide Computer Training Courses for Seniors with Disabilities

2004 Received funding for the Living Longer Living Stronger Programme

Received Project funding for First Click, Disabilities courses and Digital Divide courses.

Funded 86 Community groups for BankWest Seniors Week via Lotterywest and OSIV grants

2005

Chose to remain independent legal entity and withdrew from Merger with COTAs in New

South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

Received funding for the first Stay On Your Feet Week Community Grants

Secured significant funding to expand Living Longer Living Stronger

Entered into research partnership with Curtin University for the Behind Closed Doors project.

Joined the COTA Over 50s Alliance

Formed sister relationship with Singaporean Action Group of Elders

2006 Participated in International Federation on Ageing Conference in Copenhagen

Began partnership with beyondblue to deliver Beyond Maturity Blues

Succeeded in the We Can’t Wait campaign to establish a state funded continence product

support program

2007 Moved to new premises in West Perth

Received Health Department 3 year contract to extend Living Longer Living Stronger 2007 to

2010

2008 Living Longer Living Stronger funding extended to 2014

2010 Received grant from ACCAN for research into older women and the Internet

2011 Established The Seniors Alliance

Adopted national branding and new COTA logo

Held inaugural Active Ageing Conference


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Held Aged Care Reform Consultations

Published “Where do I start? Female seniors and the Internet”.

2012 Commenced Seniors Housing Centre

State Government amended the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981,

removing its age discriminatory provisions following 10 years of lobbying by COTA WA.

2013 Ran the Seniors Awards ceremony

Won the Richard (Dick) Fletcher Award for Organizational Achievement in Consumer

Protection

2014 Won tender to extend the Seniors Housing Centre Service

State Government abolished aged related mandatory driving tests

Ran the Seniors Awards ceremony

Established Mall Walking Project

Published “Security of tenure for the ageing population in Western Australia”

2015 Moved to The Perron Centre in Victoria Park

Ran the Seniors Awards ceremony


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COTA WA

The Perron Centre

61, Kitchener Ave

Victoria Park WA 6100

E: www.cotawa.org.au

Ph.: 08 94720104

http://www.cotawa.org.au/

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