• First Western Australian Seniors Strategy launched today
• Strategy aims to support older people of all backgrounds throughout WA to achieve better life outcomes
• 2023-24 State Budget to include $2 million to support implementation

The McGowan Government has today launched An Age-friendly WA: State Seniors Strategy 2023-2033, Western Australia's first Seniors Strategy, with $2 million to be included in the 2023-24 State Budget to support the plan.

The 10-year strategy to support older Western Australians will guide community actions that are responsive to older people's wants, needs and aspirations to make WA a place where seniors can live their best lives.

The strategy identifies four key pillars of change: thriving physically, mentally, and spiritually; safe and friendly communities; staying connected and engaged; and having views that are heard.

Accompanied by a five-year Action Plan, the strategy sets out a range of actions including a comprehensive campaign to tackle ageism in WA.

Extensive consultations were undertaken in developing the strategy, with more than 2,600 older people aged from pre-seniors through to people in their 90s providing feedback.

State-wide consultation took place via face to face and online sessions, hardcopy feedback, online surveys and phone discussions, with particular effort to ensure First Nations seniors were able to provide feedback in a culturally appropriate way.

The strategy was developed in partnership with 17 State Government agencies, and the 5-year Action Plan will involve ongoing collaboration across the WA Government.

Community services providers, peak bodies, local government agencies and other key stakeholders also provided feedback into the strategy.

Seniors are one of the fastest growing demographic groups representing 16 per cent of the current population and expected to grow to nearly one-fifth of the population by 2033.

To read the State Seniors Strategy and for more information, please visit: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/wa-seniors-strategy

Comments attributed to Lara Dalton MLA, Member for Geraldton:

“The McGowan Labor Government is passionate about ensuring that WA seniors are provided with the support they need and require to have fulfilling lives.

“I would like to thank all Geraldton seniors who participated in the consultation process and in particular, Yvonne Lovedee who facilitated additional feedback sessions.”

Comments attributed to Seniors and Ageing Minister Don Punch:

"The McGowan Government is passionate about ensuring that Western Australian seniors are provided with the support they need and require to have fulfilling lives.

"Collectively, we all need to recognise and further value the wisdom and experience of seniors as well as their life-long contributions to the community.

"We have heard directly from seniors across remote, regional and metropolitan areas, as the issues for our seniors are varied and complex.

"The new State Seniors Strategy provides a strong, cohesive vision along with the first five-year Action Plan to support and promote seniors, ensure community involvement, and drive government change.

"Eliminating ageism in WA is at the heart of the 10-year strategy and will be significant in the way we move forward and enable seniors to prosper."

Minister's office - 6552 6900