Seniors organisations and groups concerned about ageing well are invited to attend a workshop being run by The University of Queensland and Ipswich City Council on Monday, June 16.
The free seminar, to be held at the Humanities Centre in Ipswich, will update the community on the activities of the Ipswich Working Action Group of Seniors (WAGS).
Dr Jo-Anne Everingham, from UQ’s Australasian Centre on Ageing, said the group’s research in Ipswich found that being able to access appropriate facilities and supportive services was a critical issue for older people.
“We held interviews and workshops where people expressed concern that many seniors are unaware of the full range of programs and services available in this community,” Dr Everingham said.
“Meals on wheels, home health care, special transportation, and other services enable many older people – particularly those who are isolated or frail – to continue living independently in their own homes.
“Not knowing where to find information about such services may cause needless suffering, expense or delay in obtaining help or accessing activities.
“To ensure such information gets wider local dissemination, a group representing a number of seniors organisations and service providers, and calling themselves the Ipswich WAGS, has been meeting for six months.”
The workshop will be facilitated by Associate Professor Michael Cuthill from the UQ Boilerhouse Community Engagement Centre, and will provide an opportunity for organisations with a stake in ageing issues to learn about the range of projects the WAGS have devised, and to contribute their ideas about ways to turn these into real outcomes.
This workshop is part of a project funded by a Linkage Grant from the Australian Research Council, and is being run by UQ’s Australasian Centre on Ageing and the UQ Boilerhouse Community Engagement Centre, in partnership with The Ipswich and Gold Coast City Councils, and the Queensland Government Department of Communities.
Anyone with an interest in ageing issues is welcome to attend.
Workshop details:
When: 2.30-4.30pm, Monday 16 June 2008 (a light afternoon tea will be served)
Where: Cafeteria, the Humanities Centre, Cnr Nicholas and South Streets, Ipswich.
For more information, and to RSVP, contact Dr Everingham on (07) 3346 9371 (or email j.everingham@uq.edu.au by Friday June 13.
MEDIA: Melinda Kopanakis (07 3365 8820, m.kopanakis@uq.edu.au)
