THE Augusta-Margaret River Shire’s Community Development team is seeking local seniors, carers and senior service providers to participate in an Age Friendly Community Study.

The aim of the study is to determine how age friendly the shire is in regards to outdoor spaces and buildings, transportation, housing, respect and social inclusion, social participation, communication and information, civic participation and employment and community support.

Age friendliness will be determined from feedback provided by seniors aged 60 years onwards, as well as carers and seniors focused government, not for profit and private based service providers.

Shire Community Development manager Paul Gravett said the study will be conducted in small groups with a professional facilitator.

“We are the first regional shire to be involved in this type of initiative which is very exciting, so we hope that the community responds to our call for assistance,” Mr Gravett said.

“This is a great opportunity for local seniors and those supporting seniors to have a say about how age friendly we are across a variety of key areas and generate some positive ideas of ways we can become more aged friendly into the future.

“For those people wanting to participate but preferring not to be involved in the groups, there is limited capacity to have a say via one-on-one interviews or by simply completing a survey.”

The shire has received $16,000 from the Department for Communities to conduct the study in conjunction with the South West Development Commission from October 2008.

To register your interest or for more information contact Hannah Waters on 9780 5251.