State and Regional Studies
Ageing can be defined from a number of perspectives: what happens at a biological level throughout the body's systems; the manifestation of these changes in physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning; and finally, in how ageing individuals and their societies perceive and adapt to the changes.
Older people are a significant and growing part of local communities. This trend presents both daunting challenges and real opportunities for local government. Older people offer rich life experience, wellhoned skills, knowledge and wisdom.
In Queensland, the rest of Australia and overseas, society is changing as people live longer and birth rates decline. The ageing of the population is an issue for people of all ages, as it will influence the lifestyles of the future.
To focus the attention of Departments, the State Government has set out seven priorities for Queensland, including “Build Queensland Regions”. One of the strategies addressing this priority is to build and encourage infrastructure to support statewide development.
Queenslanders, at the opening of the twenty first century, are experiencing an intensification of societal forces that are challenging long cherished beliefs about social order and governance.