Competing Frameworks in Planning for the Aged in the Growth Corridors of Melbourne

Abstract

The Ageing in the Growth Corridors Project was initiated as a partnership between the University of Melbourne and the Department of Health in the Northwest Metropolitan Region of Melbourne, Australia. It involved a research team working with six project officers appointed to stimulate development in relation to an aging population in the sprawling outer metropolitan growth corridors. This article identifies the key lessons learned in terms of project implementation relating to attitudinal and structural barriers to the development of an age-friendly environment in areas of rapid urban growth. The findings illustrate some of the dilemmas raised by competing program conceptions, a dynamic and changing federal/state policy context, and local resource and strategic management constraints. The partnership with the university, nevertheless, provided a point of stability and continuity for the project officers in implementing their mandate.

Developing Age-Friendly Cities and Communities in Australia

“…The implementation challenge is substantial, however: the Liveability and Sustainability objectives in the Metropolitan Planning strategy (Victorian Government, 2012) made little mention of either ageing or spatial inequalities. AFC actions have been left largely to voluntary organizations such as the Brotherhood of St Laurence and academic reports to make the case for more equitable and age-friendly urban growth, for example, Hansen (2012) and Ozanne and Biggs (2014). In the 2012 State election campaign, the Council on the Ageing called for commitments to what it termed to be the "The Three Pillars of an Age Friendly Victoria": ensure equity and social inclusiveness, whole of government strategies, and improve health and well-being, with a focus on active ageing and diversity.…”

“…Government decisions on development inevitably take account of economic interests and their own financial positions as well as opposition from existing residentsincluding older people who are ageing in place. In Victoria, as Ozanne, Biggs, and Kurowski (2014) are finding, taking account of ageing and older people in planning "greenfields" corridors development is problematic given the immediate priorities accorded to housing young families and the pressures of property interests, generational interests, and implicit ageism. A barrier to successful implementation of AFC strategies at all levels of government is a tight fiscal environment combined with organizational inertia and established community expectations.…”

Australian social work research on ageing and aged care: A scoping review

“…While limited interest and knowledge may reflect ageist attitudes, they also suggest a lack of imagination about the diverse areas and methods of practice relevant to social work with older people. These can range from psychosocial interventions in the provision of palliative care in residential facilities (Robertson, 2008) to facilitation of age-friendly communities in urban areas (Ozanne, Biggs, & Kurowski, 2014). McCormack (2008) and Duffy and Healy (2011) have pointed to the complexity and dynamic nature of social work with older people in the hospital setting, detailing the role of multidisciplinary teamwork, comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments, family conferences, counselling interventions, and advocacy as all part of everyday practice.…”

Building a model to analyse and compare social policies on ageing

“…ii) Inclusion/ Exclusion of older people with health or mobility problems ; since people exclude the fragile from the active ageing, there is a need to develop a comprehensive strategy that includes the most vulnerable and less active (Bowling, 2008 ;O'Shea, 2006). iii) Top-down or bottom-up, considering the discussion about governance processes, which can differ between top-down approaches, focused on local authority leadership and programmed guidelines for age-friendliness ; and bottom-up approaches, concentrated on simplifying older people's participation, empowering them and and involving them in the neighbourhood and community (Ozanne, Biggs and Kurowski, 2014).…”

“…Generally, local government has a unique position in creating a sustainable environment for older people. The role of local authorities is taking the lead in improving social participation and ensuring a positive public policy context (Ozanne, Biggs and Kurowski, 2014). Local and regional actors are at the forefront in the opportunity for active ageing to capitalize since they will be able to understand and respond to the specific challenges in their communities.…”