Some Highlights From The History of the Council On The Ageing Western Australia:

Email: exec@cotawa.org.au

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1959	Old People’s Welfare Council of Western Australia established following 1958 creation of a national body largely based on an English model.
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”.
1977	Established three Carers’ Support Groups in Perth (Selby, Cannington and Fremantle).
1978-79	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 (metropolitan) 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.
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
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
	Ran Seniors Quality use of Medicine Program
2008	Computer Classes began
	Fair Go for Pensioners campaign
2009	COTAWA celebrates its 50th Anniversary
	Seniors week community grants now funded by Dept for communities and Lotterywest.  Still administered by COTAWA
	COTAWA launches its Facebook site and converts newsletter to electronic format
	Crime and Safety programmed developed and launched
	Act Belong commit for seniors developed and launched
	Murdoch University Social Isolation Program and research launched October, 2009
	Establishment of the Seniors Alliance
	The Workers compensation and Injury Management Act reformed to remove the age discriminatory provisions due in part to COTAWA active advocacy on this subject
2011	Establishment of the COTAWA Seniors Housing Centre in partnership with the Department of Commerce
	Seniors housing research project on Tenure issues commenced
2012	Active Ageing Conference
2014	Fair go for Seniors Rally
	Hands off the Pension Campaign launched
2015	Strategic Plan 2015-2018 Published
	Security of Tenure for the Ageing Population in Western Australia report completed and Launched
	Controlling My own Life: making the most of Consumer Directed Care (CDC) Peer education programme launched
	COTA takes over and administers Mallwalking Program
	Active Ageing and Seniors Card information talks commence
	State Government abolished age related Mandatory driving tests
2016	Restructure of Living Longer Living stronger to help programme sustainability and longevity.
	Cybercrime programme launched after successful grant application to Attorney General’s proceeds of crime fund.
	Policy Council re structure to allow greater flexibility and response to state issues
	Employment mentoring program pilot launched