International Year of Older Persons grants - country

9/6/99
Thousands of seniors around the State will benefit from 80 International Year of Older Persons grants announced by Seniors' Minister Rhonda Parker today.
The second round of grants for the international year, worth a total of $200,000 will go to 42 metropolitan and 38 country community-based and local government organisations, including a number of Aboriginal and multicultural groups.
"The successful applicants include a parenting program for young mothers using seniors as mentors, a Seniors Olympics, histories of seniors including a Polish-English historical book, a Healthy Lifestyle Expo, intergenerational projects between young people and seniors, programs to train seniors in the use of technology, promotions of healthy ageing and activities to help senior carers," Mrs Parker said.
"The community response to these grants has been overwhelming with more than 420 applications received, a staggering 750 per cent increase on the previous round of grants, reflecting the increasing interest in this international year.
"This shows the increased awareness of seniors issues generated by the international year.
"The IYOP grants program will support community initiatives and projects that promote the theme for the year, 'a Western Australia for all ages'.
"It provides an opportunity to initiate programs to benefit Western Australian seniors of today and as well as the increasing number of seniors in the future.
"Currently 14 per cent of the State's population is aged 60 years or more. That will increase to 22 per cent by the year 2021 so we must start planning now to ensure that the necessary services and programs are in place to meet the demands of our ageing population."
The country winners by town, organisation and project are:

Contact details of the winning projects can be obtained from Nic Lanyon at the Office of Seniors Interests on 9220 1104.
Media contact: Owen Cole 9481 7810