The Portarlington Community Association hosted a POSITIVE AGEING FORUM on Monday 12 November 2007. 

Approximately 60 people attended the forum. Participants listened to guest speakers then shared what they treasure about living in Portarlington, and explored what they need and want to enable them to stay in Port ageing positively.

Sue Hendy, Executive Director, COTA and Personal Space Consulting's Kate Purnell were guest speakers at the forum. Sue spoke about Positive Ageing and age-friendly cities/townships, with reference to the recently launched WHO Global Age Friendly Cities Guide. Kate talked about Boston's successful Beacon Hill Village ageing-in-place model.

Organisers Jenny Wills and Monica Hayes believe the forum achieved its two purposes; To provide Portarlington friends, relatives and neighbours with an opportunity to make Portarlington an age-friendly township. and To identify individuals interested in creating a membership based, ageing-in-place, pilot project in Portarlington so that locals can live life to the fullest in their community.

As a result of the forum ten inspired individuals  volunteered to join Monica and Jenny  to form a steering group with a view to designing such a pilot.

This 'can do group' is named S-I-P Staying in Port. They convened an Aged Care Services Expo held at the Portarlington Senior Citizen's Centre in June 2008. This was a terrific afternoon which celebrated all the various groups and services active in the local community. The format offered a friendly opportunity for people to explore options, have fun and make connections for now and if needed in the future.

Exhibitors included groups such as Port Pedal (cycling group), taichi, photography, ballroom dancing group, transport connections, Community Health Centre, Rotary, home help and nursing services, delivered meals, and others.

For further information about S-I-P contact
Jenny Wills 03 5259 2032 or Monica Hayes 03 5259 3708 



COTA
Connecting Over 50's Throughout Australia – COTA is Australia’s leading senior’s organisation http://www.cota.org.au/

WHO Global Age Friendly Cities Guide – launched on October 1, 2007
 The Checklist - See how your community measures up using the checklist at http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Age_friendly_cities_checklist.pdf