Healthy Ageing Strategy
2023–2027
A shared vision for healthy ageing on the North Coast
Healthy ageing is one of Healthy North Coast’s strategic priorities. The North Coast has one of Australia’s oldest and fastest growing populations, creating increasing demand for primary health care, aged care, community services and a coordinated health system that supports people to live well throughout later life.
The Healthy Ageing Strategy 2023–2027 provides the framework for improving the health and wellbeing of older people across the North Coast. Developed through extensive research, data analysis, systems modelling, community consultation and collaboration with health, aged care and community partners, the Strategy guides Healthy North Coast’s investment, commissioning and partnerships to support healthier ageing across the region.
Our vision is that people on the North Coast live well, age well, and have ongoing opportunities to contribute and stay connected to communities and Country.
Why healthy ageing matters
The North Coast is experiencing significant demographic change. In 2021, more than one in four people living across the region were aged 65 years and over—substantially higher than the NSW and Australian averages. By 2041, the number of people aged over 65 is projected to increase by almost 30 per cent, while the number of people aged 85 years and over is expected to increase by more than 80 per cent. This growth will place increasing pressure on health services, aged care, workforce capacity and community support systems.
At the same time, evidence shows people are living longer, but not necessarily healthier lives. Many older people experience chronic disease, frailty, dementia, social isolation, housing insecurity or difficulty navigating increasingly complex health and aged care systems. These challenges reinforce the importance of shifting the focus from responding to illness towards prevention, early intervention, integrated care and supporting people to maintain their independence and wellbeing for as long as possible.
Healthy ageing is not simply about services for older people—it is about creating the conditions that enable people to age well throughout the life course.
Evidence-informed planning
The Healthy Ageing Strategy is underpinned by a comprehensive evidence base and reflects Healthy North Coast’s commitment to population health planning.
Development of the Strategy included:
- demographic and population health analysis
- systems dynamic modelling
- literature reviews and environmental scanning
- community consultation and consumer engagement
- co-design with clinicians, aged care providers and community organisations
- ongoing evaluation of emerging models of care and innovation.
The Strategy also aligns with Healthy North Coast’s Health Needs Assessment, ensuring investment and service planning responds to the identified health needs of older people across the North Coast region.
Related resources
Strategic priorities
1. Improving lives now
Supporting people to maintain their health, independence and quality of life by improving access to information, services and coordinated care.
Priority areas include:
- supporting self-management
- strengthening social connection
- promoting healthy ageing across the continuum of ageing
- improving palliative and end-of-life care
- supporting carers.
2. Securing a healthier future
Focusing on prevention and early intervention to help people remain healthy, active and independent for longer.
Priority areas include:
- healthy lifestyles
- housing and social determinants of health
- assistive technologies
- ageing in place
- normalising conversations about ageing and end-of-life planning.
3. Working together as one system
Building stronger partnerships across primary care, aged care, hospitals, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, local government and community organisations to deliver more integrated care.
Priority areas include:
- regional collaboration
- integrated care
- digital and virtual care
- workforce capability
- shared planning and information.
4. No one is left behind
Reducing inequities by ensuring services are culturally safe, inclusive and responsive to the needs of priority populations.
This includes improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people living in rural and remote communities, carers and other vulnerable groups through locally informed approaches and stronger partnerships.
From strategy to action
The Healthy Ageing Strategy is more than a planning document. It informs Healthy North Coast’s commissioning, partnerships, advocacy and service development, ensuring investment is directed towards evidence-based initiatives that improve health outcomes for older people.
Programs delivered through the Strategy include:
How the Strategy was Developed
The Healthy Ageing Strategy 2023–2027 is grounded in evidence, community insight and collaboration across the health and aged care sectors. It reflects several years of research, planning and engagement to understand the needs of our ageing population and identify opportunities to improve health outcomes across the North Coast.
The Strategy was developed through:
- demographic analysis and population health data
- systems dynamic modelling to explore future service demand
- literature reviews and environmental scanning of emerging models of care
- consultation with older people, carers and community members
- collaboration with general practice, residential aged care providers, hospitals, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, allied health providers and community organisations
- co-design workshops and cross-sector partnerships that informed the Strategy’s priorities and actions.
This evidence-based approach ensures the Strategy responds to current community needs while preparing the region for the challenges and opportunities of an ageing population.
MILESTONES
Strategy Development Timeline
Building the evidence
Planning commenced with extensive demographic analysis and Systems Dynamic Modelling to better understand future population growth, health service demand and opportunities to improve healthy ageing outcomes across the North Coast.
Listening to our communities
A Healthy Ageing Strategy Reference Group was established to guide development of the Strategy. Community consultation, including the Perceptions of Ageing project, captured the experiences and priorities of older people, carers and local communities.
Designing solutions together
Healthy North Coast worked with clinicians, aged care providers, consumers and community organisations to co-design practical initiatives that support healthy ageing. During this period, research continued alongside the implementation of early initiatives including digital health in residential aged care, dementia resources, palliative care initiatives and the Care Finder program.
Turning strategy into action
The Healthy Ageing Strategy now guides Healthy North Coast’s planning, commissioning and partnerships. Ongoing evaluation, research and collaboration continue to inform new initiatives that improve access to care, strengthen the workforce and support older people to live well across the North Coast.
Evidence and Related Resources
The Healthy Ageing Strategy is part of Healthy North Coast’s broader planning and commissioning framework. It is informed by regional health data, community consultation and ongoing evaluation, ensuring our priorities and activities respond to the needs of older people across the North Coast.
The related resources provide further information about the evidence, strategic priorities and community insights that guide this work.
