People in NSW are living longer lives than at any other time in history.

In NSW, the number of people now aged over 65 is projected to increase by more than 50 per cent by 2030 and by 2040 will have doubled the present proportion.

And while an ageing population poses challenges, it also presents a range of opportunities and benefits to older people and to the community as a whole.

The challenge for government and the broader community is to make sure that as people live longer, they continue to lead healthy, happy and fulfilling lives.

Positive Ageing Grants

The NSW Minister for Ageing and Disability Services launched the Positive Ageing Grants, the latest initiative by the NSW Government to broaden knowledge of ageing in the community.

The Positive Ageing Grants will go to community groups, local government organisations and not for profit bodies to develop creative and cultural projects that promote positive messages on what it means to grow older and enhance the wellbeing of older people and improve their participation in the community.

One-off grants of up to $50,000 are available to existing non-government and local government organisations to develop and implement creative and cultural projects that:

• promote positive messages on what it means to grow older;
• bring older people, artists and the community together to promote positive attitudes to ageing;
• promote inter-generational engagement, with particular focus on disadvantaged groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse groups.
• promote images of older people to the NSW community in a positive, interesting and creative way;
• support positive active ageing;
• enhance the wellbeing of older people and improve their participation in the community through opportunities for lifelong learning.

Applications for the Positive Ageing Grants Program close on Friday 27 November 2009.