Happy New Year -COTA NSW welcomes 2024

Through collective effort people all over the world worked to make things a little bit better. We here at COTA NSW were no different from the millions of other community-led organisations and groups across the world. We have tried to understand the issues and move to solutions. Sometimes with success. Other times feeling like we have been on “loop” repeating the same things that still haven’t changed but repeating them, nevertheless.

What is noteworthy is that every activity we engaged with this year began with a conversation. Every idea we shared, every bit of research we led, every piece of policy we evaluated centred around a, or a series of conversations. Universally, almost all these conversations landed on the concept and importance of “community”.

What we know is that despite diverse experiences of ageing, people who have a connection to community, a role to play in community and the power to choose their community are more likely to age positively.

Our work this year began to reshape our own relationships with community. We thought about the importance of our connections with other organisations, our members and our growing network of supporters. We really thought about what is “strong, not what is wrong”. Despite the challenges, and there are many, ageing can be time of opportunity, possibility and influence.

Our role as an organisation is to amplify the voices of older people to make things better. Last year we did that through our many and varied activities. Our COTA Conversations engaged almost 2000 people in online conversations. The Annual Consumer Survey that provides the rich data for the 50 plus Report engaged 6000 people who told us what mattered to them. Our Community Speaker Program and our Information Pathways Program bought community education and independent and impartial information to many people across the State.

There is always more to do and this year we want to focus on what you have told us is important. Accessing and using information to make informed decisions; ensuring the voices of older people are loud enough to address the affordable housing and homelessness crises across our State; improving hospital experiences of older people particularly those with cognitive impairment and ensuring people of all ages have opportunities to socially and economically participate in their chosen communities.

From all of us here at COTA NSW, to you and yours, all the very best for 2024.

Look forward to connecting again soon,

Marika Kontellis CEO