Planning for an ageing population

Local Government NSW recently launched a new online resource to help NSW councils plan for their future populations and meet the needs of older residents.

Joint president of Local Government NSW, Cr Ray Donald, says the new Resource for Ageing Population Planning 2.0 (RAPP 2.0) is free for councils to use and features detailed population projections for individual council areas up to 2026, including demographics such as age, gender and labour force.

“Funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FACS), Office for Ageing, RAPP 2.0 will greatly assist councils in their long-term community planning,” Cr Donald says.

“Councils play an important role in providing community care services and other activities that enable older people to remain living in their own homes and stay active in their communities.

“This new resource will be a great boost for councils when developing their ageing strategies, as it will help them identify the characteristics of older people in their areas and target services for them over the next 25 years.”

Joint president of Local Government NSW, Cr Keith Rhoades AFSM, says the average life expectancy of the Australian population increases each and every year, and this has implications for councils and how they plan for their individual communities and across regions.

“More and more councils are collaborating and sharing resources. Features of RAPP 2.0, including the ability to compare local government areas, regions and Local Health Districts, will provide them with a longterm regional perspective.

“NSW councils regularly work with other spheres of government to ensure that healthy ageing programs and community home based care programs are well resourced,” Cr Rhoades says.

“Local Government NSW, with the support of FACS and the Office for Ageing, has worked hard to deliver this free online tool to help councils, and the community groups they deal with on a daily basis, to meet the real and growing level of need amongst older people.”

For more information on the Resource for Ageing Population Planning 2.0, visit www.lgnsw.org.au