A new grant program is set to make $220,000 in funding available to councils for the creation of age-friendly communities in Western Australia.
‘Age-friendly’ is an internationally recognised best practice approach to creating communities that are inclusive and accessible for people of all ages.
Grants of up to $15,000 will be available through the Age-friendly Communities Connectivity Grants Program to local governments and not-for profit organisations to undertake initiatives that build older peoples’ connection to community and help to achieve age-friendly outcomes.
A second funding stream will be available to help local governments to become members of the World Health Organisation’s Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (WHO GNAFCC).
The grants program builds on WA’s status as an international age-friendly leader, and as the first Australian jurisdiction to become an affiliate of the WHO GNAFCC.
WA is one of only 18 affiliates of this network worldwide which connects cities and communities globally with the common vision of making their community a great place to age.
The grants form part of the State Seniors Strategy 2023-2033 and will support the Department of Communities to work collaboratively with local governments and not-for-profit organisations to implement age-friendly initiatives.
Western Australian Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Simone McGurk, said that Western Australians are living longer than ever before, with older people projected to make up one quarter of the population by 2071.
“These grants will fund projects that improve older peoples’ connections to community and help to achieve age-friendly outcomes,” McGurk said.
“Importantly, we are also ensuring local governments have the opportunity to be recognised for their age-friendly leadership and to cement their community’s commitment towards valuing older people, as part of the global age-friendly network.”
Grant applications close on 18 August 2025. Find out more here.
