National Seniors Australia (NSA) had the pleasure of visiting the rural Queensland town of Kilkivan this week to acknowledge volunteers with the Kilkivan & District Community Care Association Inc (KDCCAI) for their work to improve the experience of ageing for local residents.
The two organisations have come together to raise support for KDCCAI's ageing in place project for rural communities, born in response to a lack of service delivery and infrastructure.
Ageing in place for those who live in rural communities is a challenge that often sees older people forced to relocate to bigger towns with the necessary support and accommodation, causing heartache for the individual in need of help and their loved ones who are unable to secure it locally.
"As people age and their needs change, practical support and staying connected to family, friends, and community becomes incredibly important," said NSA General Manager, Ms Pauline Mason.
"For some people who live in regional and rural communities, like Kilkivan, ageing and changing needs often come with the distressing and heartbreaking relocation to bigger towns with the necessary supports and accommodation smaller towns lack."
In 2019, sick of seeing loved ones torn apart, Rosie Fitzgerald became determined to help residents age in place.
Seven years later, her mission has transformed into an incorporated association with 50 active members and volunteers who have helped hundreds of older residents to stay in their homes and in their community as they age.
With a seniors' social and community hub, community transport service, and improved access to Support at Home services all achieved, KDCCAI is now focused on securing the funding to build transitional accommodation to help older residents downsize locally into one-bedroom rental homes. Those with higher needs can move into shared accommodation with greater supervision.
KDCCAI President and 2026 Everald Compton Community Champion Medal winner, Ms Fitzgerald, said it had been a privilege to assist community members she holds so dear.
She said she strongly believes that addressing the local deficiencies at the source will result in far better and more cost-effective outcomes that benefit all.
"Moving seniors from their home, against their will - especially those living with dementia - can adversely impact their mental health while also increasing the level of care required elsewhere," Ms Fitzgerald said.
"Many rural communities are similar to Kilkivan with a higher-than-average cohort of older residents, few services, a lack of public transport, and many older residents with little or no close family support.
"Add to this, cost-of-living pressures and limited housing options, and our proposed ageing-in-place model becomes not only necessary, but urgent.
"Too often policy makers see aged-related issues through the lens of an urban resident. But not all people live in highly urbanised areas. Rural Australians have rights. Ensuring these rights are met and their needs delivered requires a very different model than one that seems to fit the majority."
It is a cause shared and championed by NSA Founder, Mr Everald Compton AO, who would like to see the Kilkivan model of care replicated in rural communities across Australia.
"Too many people who live in rural communities are forced to move as they age. This shouldn't be the case. It is fundamentally wrong and we have to fix it," Mr Compton said.
"We need all levels of government - from local to federal - to invest in and support older Australians in rural communities, just as they do older Australians in metropolitan areas, to help them to live longer and better lives in the place they call home.
"After seven years of KDCCAI's hard work, it is time for Kilkivan to deliver transitional accommodation. KDCCAI is ready, the Kilkivan community is ready. The nation is ready. Now, let's make it happen!"
Ms Mason said when, once upon a time, residents would have relocated away from the community they know and love, many have been able to stay - all thanks to the efforts of dedicated KDCCAI volunteers and the vision of its equally dedicated President, Ms Fitzgerald.
"They say it takes a village to raise a child but if this 'village of volunteers' in Kilkivan has shown us anything - it is that the work of that 'village' is far from over when that child is raised. And it is perhaps in the later years, when that work is most important.
"For seven years KDCCAI volunteers have supported residents to age in place - it's now time for the broader community to support the KDCCAI!" Ms Mason said.
