Healthy ageing for Indigenous seniors
Brisbane’s elderly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community will have the chance to learn more about aged care at an expo this month.
The first ever healthy ageing expo for Brisbane’s Indigenous community will be held during Queensland’s Seniors Week later this month.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing Well Expo aims to increase awareness of aged care services and improve access to health providers for Indigenous people and their carers.
Event organiser and Blue Care’s Indigenous Coordinator, David Conlon, said the expo will feature interactive displays, health education sessions, demonstrations, healthy food sampling and bush tucker, as well as entertainment by traditional dancers and live bands.
“This Brisbane-first expo is a step to improving the health care and life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in our community,” Mr Conlon said.
“There is a huge gap in the life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when compared with other Australians and consequently our people are requiring aged care services at a much earlier age.
“That is why I encourage people aged from 40 years old to attend the expo, in addition to our elders.”
The expo has received funding support from Queensland Health, Logan City Council, Blue Care and the World Indigenous Cultural Exchange & Economic Development Organisation (WICEEDO).
It will be held at Kingston Butter Factory, Kingston, from 9.30am-2.30pm on August 17 and entry is free.
For more information, phone the Indigenous Health, South Metro Health Service on 07 3847 0919.
