Introducing Active Ageing SA Inc (trading as Active Ageing Australia)
Patron: His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AO CSC RANR Governor of South Australia
Active Ageing-the process of optimising opportunities for physical, social and mental wellbeing throughout the life course in order to extend healthy life expectancy and the quality of life in older age.
World Health Organisation
Active Ageing Australia is committed to the philosophy of active ageing and to taking action to increase the participation of people in recreational and physical activities as they age.
Active Ageing Australia is taking action through its role as leader in the field for active ageing and its programs and services for the community and service providers across the recreation, health promotion, aged care and fitness sectors.
The ageing of the population is one of the greatest challenges facing the world in the 21st century. In the last century life expectancy rose sharply and is expected to continue to rise in virtually all populations round the world. 'Active ageing' highlights the importance of health and ongoing participation for the individual to maintain a sense of purpose, quality of life and well being throughout life.
As an organisation Active Ageing Australia's key message is about sharing information on healthy, positive ageing and helping people to make positive choices for remaining sufficiently physically active and maximising their capacity, participation and enjoyment of life.
Active Ageing Australia is about helping people challenge the myths of ageing, adding life to years and not just years to life!
Active Ageing Australia is supported through funding from the Office for Recreation and Sport, the SA Department of Health, the Office for the Ageing and the Australian Department of Health and Ageing.
Physical activity - a key to active ageing!
Research shows that physical activity is the single most significant means whereby individuals can influence their own health and functional abilities as they age.
The benefits of engaging in physical activity on a regular basis are significant. Not only is physical activity important for the maintenance of mobility, it also minimises the risks of future ill health and assists in offsetting many of the ailments traditionally associated with ageing.
'Sufficient activity' is defined as completing 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week over 5 sessions. 52.5% of adults are sufficiently active. Of those over 60 years, 25% are inactive, 29.9% are insufficiently active, 45.2% are sufficiently active.'
Health Promotion SA, Dpt Human Services, Government of South Australia.
Active Ageing Australia - taking action in the community
Active Ageing Australia takes action to increase participation by offering the following services to the community:
- Active Ageing Hotline (08) 8232 9077 - for information on recreation, physical activity and healthy ageing
- Active Ageing physical activity resource directory - information directory on physical activity opportunities available in the local area
- Taking Action for active ageing speakers/presentations - for groups and clubs - helping people learn more about the latest research to challenge the myths of ageing the links to remaining healthy, active and involved
- HAMP (Home Activity Monitoring Project) - a home based activity program-join by telephoning our hotline and asking for a brochure
Active Ageing Australia - taking action across the industry
Active Ageing Australia takes action to increase participation across the industry by:
- Promoting partnerships for active ageing through the development of key industry collaborative relationships throughout government and the fields of recreation, physical activity, health promotion, and aged care
- Advisory/consultancy/speakers/presentations on taking action for healthy, active ageing to governments, councils, groups and organisations
Active Ageing Australia - taking action by offering education and training for service providers.
Active Ageing Australia takes action to increase participation by providing a range of quality training programs for aged care facilities, home and community care providers:
- Easy Moves for Active Ageing (EMAA) - state of the art leaders training course for conducting and designing gentle exercise programs. – recently updated and approved by Service Skills as an appropriate learning resource within National Training Packages
- Home Activity Monitoring Project (HAMP) – a home based exercise program that offers coaching support to assist participants to become sufficiently active
- Tai Chi Chair and Tai Chi Dementia- a 2-day training program conducted by Rosemary Palmer
- NoFalls - a 1-day leader training aimed at preventing falls in the elderly.
- Taking Action - quarterly newsletter for news, updates, information, continuing education programs
- Targeting Mature Age participants - presentations / workshops- helping regions,clubs, groups organisations and service providers reach their target market
Active Ageing Australia Membership
Membership is open to individuals and corporate organisations across the recreation, physical activity, health promotion and aged care sectors. To become a member of Active Ageing Australia, click on the link and then complete the form Active Ageing Membership.
Active Ageing SA Annual Report 2008 - 2009
Below you will find Active Ageing SA Annual Report in Adobe Reader Format. In order to view and print these documents you must have Acrobat Adobe Reader installed. After pressing the download button, select "Open" if prompted to Open or Save.
Now Available for download.
