Acknowledging the NT has Australia's fastest-growing rate of seniors aged over 65-years, the Territory Labor Government has launched its Northern Territory Seniors Policy 2021-2026.
The Policy will guide a whole-of-government approach to revitalising pathways to services and programs for senior Territorians.
Four priority areas and a range of actions will provide future direction to address the matters of greatest importance for our ageing population as the demand for services continues to expand.
Priority areas are:
- economic participation and financial security;
- safety and security;
- health and wellbeing; and
- social inclusion and diversity.
Features of the policy include:
- helping older people to remain in the work force while providing a range of services to support the increased cost of living;
- developing and stimulating private, public and affordable housing for seniors across urban, regional and remote locations;
- a recreation plan to help people stay healthy and active for as long as possible and initiatives around financial and social resources to maintain connections to family, friends and the community;
- improving and simplifying access to the NT Concession Scheme and NT Seniors Recognition Scheme.
- provision of easy-to-understand financial information on superannuation and retirement savings, with Aboriginal people receiving the information in their own language or having access to Aboriginal interpreter services; and
- ensuring senior Territorians can access high-quality, culturally-secure preventative healthcare and promoting, and protecting the health and wellbeing of seniors.
For the first time, Territorians aged from 50 years will be included in the policy to assist in planning, pointing to the large percentage of older people living and working in the NT, lower life expectancy rates in Aboriginal people, and the anticipated increase in demand for services and programs for this age group.
The new policy has been prepared following consultation with the Minister's Advisory Council for Senior Territorians and public consultation through the Northern Territory Government's Have Your Say platform.
An implementation plan at the end of 2021 will detail how government departments will coordinate and progress actions.
See more at NT Seniors Policy 2021-2026.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Seniors Lauren Moss:
"Seniors are valued and respected members of the Northern Territory community, who come from a range of backgrounds, including Aboriginal nations, and people who have decided to make the NT their home.
"They are significant contributors to our economy, and play a unique and vital role in families and communities.
"Our new policy will ensure we have the right policies and plans in place to cater for our ageing population to encourage them to retire in the Territory.
"It is important that we keep senior Territorians safe and healthy, and provide opportunities to increase their quality of life as they age."
