COTA Western Australia

20/10/2026

Your voice matters! 💙

We strongly encourage our WA community to take a few minutes to complete this survey on aged care assessments and Support at Home programs.

You don't need to be currently using aged care services to contribute—feedback from future planners and family carers is just as important in making sure the system works for all older Australians.

⏰ You have until Friday, 30th October to complete the quick anonymous survey linked in COTA Australia’s post below.

Share your experience of aged care assessments and Support at Home services.

The Australian Government is reviewing the aged care assessment process and Support at Home program to make sure they are meeting the needs of older people in Australia.

The government wants to hear from older people, their families and carers, even if you are not currently using these programs.

Your feedback will help inform improvements to the aged care system. Your responses will remain anonymous.

The survey has been extended until Friday 30 October. You can find further details and link to the survey here: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/news-and-updates/share-your-experience-aged-care-assessments-and-support-home-services

19/10/2026

Great day connecting with the community on Friday! 🌟

On Friday 16th October, we had a wonderful time setting up an information stall in Koondoola at a community event for the local Vietnamese community, co-hosted by Consumer Protection WA, Meredith Hammat MLA, and Apollo Care.

It was a fantastic opportunity to share information about COTA WA’s resources, our Goodbye Guides, and how older adults can stay active and healthy through our Strength for Life program.

A huge thank you to Consumer Protection WA for delivering an insightful presentation on scam awareness. Staying safe online and over the phone is so important for our community!

💡 Tip: To learn how to spot common scams or report a suspicious message, visit Consumer Protection’s WA ScamNet page: www.scamnet.wa.gov.au

15/10/2026

As part of the global Get Online Week initiative, supported by the Good Things Foundation, this event aims to strengthen digital literacy among seniors across the metropolitan area.

Now in its ninth year, the Seniors Tech Expo has consistently delivered positive outcomes, helping older adults build confidence and develop practical skills to navigate an increasingly digital world.

This year's Expo will be held in a new and larger venue at Belmont Oasis, enabling all exhibitors and participants to be accommodated in one location and creating a vibrant, engaging atmosphere.

Registrations are essential! Contact Seniors Recreation Council on 08 6118 2717

We look forward to seeing you there!

Seniors Recreation Council of WA Inc.

14/10/2026

What an incredible turnout at the City of Rockingham Seniors Expo last Friday! 📣

Our team was blown away by the energy of the crowd—so much so that we completely ran out of our Strength for Life brochures and Goodbye Guides! Thank you to every single person who dropped by to chat with us about staying strong, active, and connected.

A special highlight of the day was bumping into Jodie and Ron! You might recognise them from our brochures—Jodie is an inspiring SFL instructor and Ron is a long-time participant who is still going strong in the program. Seeing firsthand how SFL brings our community together is what it's all about.

If you missed out on a brochure at the expo, don't worry—you can find all our provider locations and info online via the link in our bio! 🔗

13/10/2026

There is still time to secure a UWA student intern for your summer project

Do you have a project that could benefit from the support of a skilled and motivated UWA student intern?

The McCusker Centre for Citizenship is accepting final roles for its Summer Intensive Internship Round, with students contributing 100 hours between 9 November and 11 December 2026 (approximately three days per week) to community-focused projects.

Students from a wide range of disciplines apply for the program, bringing skills in areas including research, community engagement, communications, marketing, IT, data science, business analytics, accounting, law and more.

A great example of the impact interns can have comes from Melville Cares, recognised as a McCusker Centre for Citizenship Outstanding Organisation Award recipient this month. Through the partnership, Melville Cares has hosted 17 interns who have contributed to projects supporting older people, carers and the wider community.

Recent interns included Maggie Resuggan, who created a storytelling video showcasing the impact of the Care Song community choir for people living with dementia and their carers, and Romnic Stephen, who developed videos and resources to help make end-of-life planning discussions more accessible and less daunting for community members.

Melville Cares CEO Maria Davison says the organisation continues to host interns because of the value they bring:
"The students' willingness to be part of the team, to understand what we're doing, and their ability to take on information quickly … and deliver good outcomes."

Reflecting on the partnership, Maria also noted that projects such as storytelling, service evaluation and data analysis help the organisation better understand and respond to community needs, while giving students the opportunity to see how their skills can make a real difference in people's lives.

Since 2016, nearly 6,500 UWA students have completed McCusker Centre internships, and 98% of host organisations recommend the program. Since becoming a strategic partner in 2023, COTA WA member organisations have hosted nearly 150 interns.

Summer internship role submissions close on 31 October.

Find out more: [email protected] or 6488 1690.

The McCusker Centre for Citizenship at UWA

08/10/2026

Looking for a free day out that’s informative, social and fun?

Discover the City of Rockingham Seniors & Carers Expo and connect with local information, community groups, services and support, while enjoying a great line-up of activities, entertainment and performances.

Whether you’re looking for local services, health and wellbeing programs, volunteer opportunities, or ways to stay active and engaged, the Expo is a great opportunity to discover what’s available in your community and make valuable connections.

What to expect:

More than 120 exhibitors and information stalls
Live entertainment, performances and presentations throughout the day
Complimentary activities and refreshments
Community groups, support services and local organisations
A family-friendly atmosphere, with grandchildren welcome
Mobility aids available for use during the event

Event details:
Friday 9 October 2026
Doors open at 10:00am
Mike Barnett Sports Complex, Rockingham

Join MC Christina Morrissey for the official welcome at 10:30am before enjoying a full day of information, activities and entertainment.

The Expo is free to attend, suitable for all ages, and designed to be accessible and inclusive. No bookings are required.

For further event information, including transport and parking options, participating stallholders and entertainers, visit the City of Rockingham website: rockingham.wa.gov.au/SeniorsExpo

City of Rockingham – Local Government

We look forward to seeing you there!!

07/10/2026

🌟 Welcome to the team, Alex!

We are thrilled to welcome Alex as our newest mobile provider from Fire and Flow Movement! Alex runs her Strength for Life sessions out of PrimeFit 24/7 and brings fantastic energy and expertise to support our community.

📍 Location: Osborne Park

Join us in welcoming Alex!

For more information on joining Strength for Life, head to our website:
https://www.cotawa.org.au/strength-for-life/new-participants/

To contact Alexandra about Strength for Life Session times, head to her website:
https://www.fireandflowmovement.com.au/
page:
Fire&FlowMovement

15/07/2026

Help Us Create Content You’ll Love 💡

We’re always looking for ways to make our guides, blogs and resources as useful and relevant as possible. If you have 5 five minutes, we’d love to hear what topics you’d like us to cover in future COTA WA guides and blog posts. Your feedback is anonymous and will help us create content that matters most to you.

You can access the survey link via

15/07/2026

AusAlert has been designed to help keep Australians informed during emergencies such as bushfires, floods and other major incidents. The system will officially launch on 1 October 2026.

Before then, a nationwide test will take place on Monday, 27 July 2026. At the scheduled time, compatible mobile phones and smartwatches across Australia will vibrate and play a loud siren-like alert, even if they are set to silent or “Do Not Disturb”

Make sure your device software is up to date so you are ready to receive important alerts. Learn more at https://www.ausalert.gov.au/alerts-explained/national-test

17/06/2026

What does voluntary assisted dying mean for individuals, families and healthcare professionals?

Join South Metropolitan Health Service tomorrow, Thurs 18 June 10.00am-11.30am at Holmes à Court Gallery @ no.10 Douglas Street, West Perth WA 6005

Offerred alongside The Power of Choice exhibition, this event offer an opportunity to hear real stories, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the end of life choice.

You will be joined by a voluntary assisted dying doctor, care navigator, pharmacist and a person with lived experience in caring for a loved one through this journey. It’s a chance to listen, share, and understand this end-of-life choice from real perspectives.

Registrations via Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1990218233311?aff=oddtdtcreator