Redlands Coast Age-friendly Action Plan | Redland City Council

Redlands Coast Age-friendly Action Plan

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Population highlights

Like many communities, Redland City’s population of older residents is increasing. In 2021, the largest age group in Redland City was 55 to 59-year-olds. The age group that changed the most between 2016 and 2021 was 70 to 74-year-olds, increasing by 2,545 people. The median age of residents is 43 years and for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands it is 60 years.

For more community profile and population information visit profile.id.com.au/redland.

Age-friendly Redlands Coast

Council values the contribution older adults make to Redlands Coast and understands that communities designed to be inclusive of older adults can positively influence the health and wellbeing of all residents, and create a vibrant community that promotes productivity and economic growth.

The Redlands Coast Age-friendly Action Plan 2021-2026 is based on the World Health Organisation’s age-friendly cities model. The plan guides the design of Council’s policies, services and infrastructure to ensure we create environments that enable older adults to enjoy active and healthy lives and continue to participate in community life. It covers eight broad areas for action that collectively influence health and wellbeing as people age.

Key updates on the progress of actions are detailed against each of the eight action areas below:

  1. Outdoor spaces and buildings

Redland City Council was acknowledged by Dementia Australia in 2022 for its commitment to working towards becoming a dementia-friendly council. Council audited the Cleveland Library building in partnership with the Redlands Coast Dementia Community group and identified opportunities to make it easier for people living with dementia to navigate the library. Signage and colour improvements have been implemented in accordance with the audit recommendations.

Most TransLink network bus stops across Redland City have now been upgraded to current disability standards to improve access for residents.

Seats in Destination and Community Parks continue to be renewed with arm rests and back rests.

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There have been 1000 footpath maintenance jobs completed since 2021 to remove hazards.

Redlands Coast public toilets’ location, number and accessibility are published on The National Public Toilet Map.

  1. Transport

Council facilitates the Redlands Coast Active Travel Reference Group to meet regularly.

The Redlands Coast Active Transport Strategy is in development and more information about community consultation on the strategy will be available later in 2023.

Council has completed a Redlands Coast Wayfinding Strategy. New wayfinding signage is being installed to make it easier for cyclists and pedestrians to locate Council services and community facilities. Examples of new wayfinding signs can be seen in Raby Bay Harbour Park and Cleveland.

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  1. Housing

Council supports regular collaboration meetings with community leaders and key services about ageing in place on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

Council’s Redland City Plan includes provisions that seek to ensure a greater diversity of housing types can be provided in the City. This is achieved by a wide range of housing types and developments being identified as suitable across the City Plan zonings. Implementing provisions in Redland City Plan is primarily achieved through the private development industry proposing and delivering new development in the City.

  1. Social participation

The Redland Performing Arts Centre offers specific programs for older adults including:

  • The Musical Melodies annual concert series, a series of day-time shows spread out through the year at affordable prices.
  • The Rock Choir 2023 program, an affordable and unique access and inclusion program that aims to engage singers of all ages and demographics to come together and prepare a concert of popular rock hit classics.
  • The 2022 Redlands Sings series – this past program was a free series led by multi-award winning singer, conductor and composer, Jonathon Welch.

Redland Libraries also offer free programs specifically for older adults as well as intergenerational activities including:

  • Author talks
  • Book clubs
  • Writing workshops
  • Craft activities
  • Robotics
  • The Mobile Library

Visit What’s on at your library for more information.

In 2021 Council facilitated the trial of an event listing app to support residents’ participation in Seniors Month activities. The trial was supported by several community organisations who listed their community-based events on the app. The trial provided valuable insights about promoting social activities for older adults.

  1. Respect and social inclusion

Council provided $30,000 in funding for community-based Seniors Month activities across 2021 and 2022.

An annual Australia Day Awards ceremony is hosted by Council, recognising the outstanding contributions of residents and organisations to the community. The awards include a Senior Citizen category to show respect and appreciation for the valuable contribution older adults make to the Redlands Coast community.

Intergenerational programs are offered through Council Libraries, such as Grandparents Story Time in Seniors Month (October). Grandparents and their grandchildren are also welcomed to join the Libraries First 5 Forever program and school holiday activities.

  1. Civic participation and employment

Tech Help for residents is offered in mainland Libraries and this has been extended to Russell Island library for 2023.

In 2022 Council delivered two Tech and Tea island-based workshops to help bridge the digital divide.

Free digital literacy group sessions called “Digital Know How” are on offer in 2023. Visit What’s on at your library for more information.

  1. Communication and information

Council has partnered with Better Hearing Australia (Brisbane) to develop an online training program to help local government staff communicate more effectively with people with hearing loss and older residents. Seventy-one Council staff have completed training. The training will also be made available to other local governments through the Council on the Ageing Queensland. More information on the training program is available here.

Age friendly

  1. Community support and health services

Council delivered person-centred emergency preparedness training on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands in 2021.

In 2022 Council funded a community-led Compassionate Communities project. The project aimed to raise awareness, build community partnerships and explore the appetite for the community (with a focus on Victoria Point and Coochiemudlo Island) to collectively provide quality support for people facing end of life and their support networks. Funding also covered the development of a Compassionate Communities resource and training on how to use the resource.