Local Connector

Across the North Coast, the population is ageing, and the region has a higher proportion of older residents than the New South Wales average, with over 1 in 4 people (26%) aged 65 and over in 2021, compared with 18% across New South Wales. The North Coast has a growing ageing population and people are living longer, often with multiple chronic conditions. The program is part of our healthy ageing strategy, helping people to live and age well. This is much more than healthcare.

Aligned with global evidence, community members told us that connection, staying active, learning, independence and access to trusted information all matter. People aged 45 and over want simple, reliable ways to find the local activities, groups and services that suit them.

By making it easy to find the right activities, groups and services early, the program supports people to stay well and independent for longer, contributing to healthier communities and a more sustainable local health system.

Local Connector is a free, AI-powered community wayfinding assistant designed to help people connect with their community and age well. It provides personalised recommendations for local activities, groups, services and events based on what matters to each individual and where they live. By bringing together trusted information from verified community sources, Local Connector makes it easier to find opportunities for social connection, support and participation. Developed by Healthy North Coast in partnership with Today Strategic Design, the platform was shaped through community consultation, co-design and ongoing testing to ensure it reflects the needs and preferences of local people.

The program was shaped through extensive community input, including co-design workshops, user testing and advice from community organisations representing priority populations. Community members helped define what living and ageing well means on the North Coast, guided the features, priorities and experience of the tool and tested early prototypes. Their feedback helped ensure the tool is simple, safe, inclusive and relevant to the diverse needs of communities across the region.

• Ran community workshops to understand what people needed to live and age well and how technology could support

• Established an advisory group representing priority populations

• Established a clinical governance panel to provide clinical governance oversight, including two formal governance reviews and ongoing feedback, to keep information safe, responsible and appropriate

• Designed and built the wayfinding tool, including guided conversation, local discovery and trusted, verified listings

• Conducted two rounds of user testing to shape the experience and keep community at the centre.

• Ran an Aboriginal-specific workshop in Ballina on an early version of the tool to ensure it is grounded in community priorities and culturally appropriate for Aboriginal community members.

• Built a reliable picture of local activities, groups and services, by identifying local offerings and working with organisations to list their details online

• Staged rollout from July 2026 to January 2027, introducing the tool across the North Coast and growing the range of local activities, groups and services available

• Continue to improve the tool based on community feedback

The program aims to help people aged 45 and over stay connected, active and part of community life. It makes it easier to discover local activities, groups and services that support living and ageing well, and provides trusted, reliable information people can depend on. Over time, the program aims to reach more communities across the North Coast and grow the range of opportunities available, guided by ongoing community feedback.