What’s on in aged care
The upcoming calendar is packed full of sector-wide events. Find out what is happening in your state.
Grab a pen, your diary and take note of some of the upcoming events happening in the sector.
• Monday October 17, 6.00pm – Sydney
Annual UNSW Medical School Dean’s Lecture, ‘Happy and healthy ageing: paradox or possibility’
Facilitated by Ita Buttrose, this event will feature Baroness Susan Greenfield, Professor David A Sinclair and Professor Henry Brodaty who will all discuss the consequences of living longer and how to do it.
For more information, click here.
• Thursday October 13, 2pm – Melbourne
LGBTI aged-care education group Val’s Cafe session, ‘Sexuality, diversity and ageing’
The session aims to help aged care service providers better understand the needs of LGBTI seniors by confronting common myths and stereotypes, and providing knowledge on how to deal with the sexual expression of older people.
For more information, click here.
• Friday October 14, 2.00pm – Sydney
Free public lecture on anxiety in seniors by Dr Viviana Wuthrich from the Centre for Emotional Health at Macquarie University.
Dr Wuthrich aims to raise awareness about anxiety and depression in older people during this public lecture. She will cover the basics of mental health in adults aged over 60 years, old and focus on anxiety and depression, and their common symptoms, the consequences if its left untreated and why the topic is neglected.
For more information, click here.
• Sunday November 6 – QLD
The second annual Grandparents Day
Held to honour and thank grandparents for their love and support will include a range of events. The day was created as a result of recommendations in the Positively Ageless strategy according to the QLD Community Services Minister Karen Struthers and focussed on promoting positive images of ageing.
For more information, click here.
• November 14-18 – Canberra
The Art of Good Health and Wellbeing, 3rd Annual International Arts and Health Conference.
Focusing on mental health and creative ageing, the conference will present ‘best practice and innovative arts and health programs, effective health promotion and prevention campaigns, methods of project evaluation and scientific research.’
A range of programs for dementia, workplace wellbeing programs; Aboriginal communities will also be available.
For more information, click here.
Conference reminders
The Australian Association of Gerontology 23 – 27 October, Melbourne
CS&HISC Making a Difference Conference 19-20 October, Brisbane
ACAA 30th Annual Congress 6-8 November, Gold Coast
Dementia and Recreation (D&R) National Conference 10 -11 November, Melbourne
Retirement Villages Association 21-23 November, Melbourne
For the full details of all the events happening throughout the country, visit the events diary on AAA’s website.
Awards and funding opportunities
Bethanie Medallion
The Bethanie Medallion is an honorary citation presented in recognition of an individual having a history of consistently delivering an exceptional standard of service in an area of the aged care sector.
Now in its eighth year, the Bethanie Medallion program has been broadened to acknowledge outstanding professionals, volunteers, groups and organisations serving and supporting the State’s ageing population.
Nominations are now open for each of the four medallion categories. Entries close at 5pm Monday 17 October, and finalists will be announced on 24 October. Winners will be announced at the Bethanie Medallion Awards on Tuesday 29 November.
Nominate online by clicking here.
Social isolation roundtable
The Victorian government, Benetas and 4C Consulting are organising a roundtable to be held at Zinc, Federation Square (Melbourne) on 14 November to encourage discussion and help people in the sector to develop key areas for action.
The organisers are also asking for the community to help plan the best possible workshops for the day by participating in a survey. To take part, all that is needed is to answer three questions. Click here for more information.
Arts and Health Australia Awards for Excellence 2011
This year there are 20 award categories, designed to recognise the diversity of contributions by individuals and organisations leading in the field of arts and health in Australia.
For more information and a category description, click here.
Teaching Research and Aged Care Services program
The federal government has made around $4 million worth of grant funding avaiable under the Teaching and Research Aged Care Services (TRACS). This funding initiative seeks to support teaching aged care facilities to share best practice across the sector and further develop their teaching models.
For more information, click here.
Seniors Week 2012 -Applications for a share of $125,000 in funding
From October 1, applications for funding will be available for 2012 Seniors Week events, which should encourage debunk common myths and stereotypes about ageing. Seniors Week will be held from August 18 to 26.
For more information, click here.