Welcome to Cardinia Shire, an age friendly city

A WHO Age Friendly City is committed to creating an environment that allows older persons to live safely, be healthy and connect with the community.

Receiving the WHO recognition was a key action in the development of the Cardinia Shire Age Friendly Strategy 2015–19. Cardinia Shire is now one of six Victorian councils with the recognition.

Mayor Cr Jodie Owen said more than 15 per cent of the Cardinia Shire population were aged over 60*, so it was important this group were supported as they age. By the year 2026 there will be over 34,000 residents in the shire over the age of 60 years.

“We want to ensure our residents, particularly as they age, to have access to a wide range of services, employment, spaces and activities in Cardinia Shire. The Age Friendly City recognition endorses the work we have been doing on this area,” she said.

“To achieve good health as we age, it is important that older people feel safe, secure and connected to their community and good health is the key to a good quality of life. We are proud that Cardinia Shire has been recognised as such a place.”

“We will now be able to use this opportunity to connect with the global network of cities and communities under this program to share and exchange information and experience.”

The Cardinia Shire Age Friendly Strategy 2015–19 was adopted in September 2015. The Age Friendly Strategy included a number of activities and projects to ensure older people maintained physical and mental health, felt safe and secure, could participate fully in the community and stay connected to others.

*Australian Bureau of Statistics census data, 2011