It goes without saying that older Australians play a crucial role in our society. Whilst it is a time to thrive, for others, particularly those with health or financial concerns, getting older can be significantly challenging. This is where COTA Australia comes in, seeking to identify the needs of, and issues affecting, the welfare of older Australians.
At Home Care Assistance we are always looking for like-minded organisations that have similar values to ours that we can share with our clients. Like COTA Australia, our goal is to support ageing Australians live healthy, happy lives. We champion the wellbeing of our clients, deliver peace of mind to their families, and instil pride of purpose in our care teams each and every day.
Who is COTA Australia?
COTA Australia, also known as Council on the Ageing, is the original and only national peak body for older Australians, representing seniors across a wide range of social and economic issues that impact them. COTA Australia is the leading policy development, advocacy, and representation organisation for older Australians. COTA is located throughout Australia and seeks to achieve an equitable, just, and inclusive society for over 8 million Australians over 50 years of age.
Founded in 1958, COTA Australia is an advocacy organisation which lobbies for action at a national level on issues affecting seniors. Through COTA Australia’s members, policy decisions are developed and monitored to ensure that they are:
- Determined by seniors in the interests of seniors
- Informed by a diverse range of seniors’ viewpoints
- Supported by research-based evidence
- Enable seniors and their organisations to propose policy positions and elect people to the Policy Council/committee and to any regional/area policy structures
Recent COTA Australia Highlights
As an advocacy organisation, COTA Australia lobbies for action at a national level on issues affecting seniors. COTA Australia has played a pivotal role in recent years to achieve:
- Aged pension increase
- Aged care reform (ongoing)
- Consumer input into PC (Productivity Commission) report
- Oral and dental care for nursing home residents
- Age Discrimination Commissioner appointment
- Carbon tax protection for pensioners
- National health reform
- Mental health reform package
- Improving the work bonus for pensioners
- Increased employment creation for older workers
COTA Australia also collaborates and works with stakeholders across the ageing sector and with organisations whose work impacts the wellbeing and independence of older people. From working on affordable housing and aged care reform with Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA), to providing the consumer perspective in the aged care accreditation review through RSL and legacy groups, to sitting on the National Consumers Roundtable for Energy, to name but a few.
How to get involved in your locality?
There is a COTA in every State and Territory of Australia and anyone over the age of 50 can become a member through a small annual fee. Through all the State and Territories COTAs there are over 500,000 older Australians who are already members. When you become a member, you will receive benefits through the COTA Rewards and Savings program.
If you are already a member and you require assistance for specific issues you can contact your local COTA and they will be able to provide information and advice on an extensive range of issues affecting older people within Australia. You can find your local COTA here.
To sign up for the COTA Newsletter click here.
COTA Australia’s vision is to not only represent older Australians but also to inspire and empower them. Amplifying the voices of older Australians is becoming increasingly important with an ageing population.
References:
https://www.cota.org.au
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As a leading age care provider, Home Care Assistance offers tailored in-home care services for older Australians, enabling them to live happier and healthier lives in the comfort of their own homes.
We offer private and government subsidised Care Packages and have office locations that are a registered NDIS provider. Our Care Workers undergo extensive training in order to deliver unmatched in-home aged care services where people can continue ageing in place. We are proud ambassadors of the My Aged Care government funded aged care program, enabling Australians to successfully navigate the process and gain approval for in-home care support packages. Home Care Assistance offers hourly care, specialised care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia care, hospital to home care, and 24 hour in home care.