The #VicSeniorsFestival kicks off today and runs all through October! We are thrilled to be connecting, celebrating, and creating with older Victorians throughout the state. We've got a number of events taking place both in-person and online; check out what's on offer using the link below.

To make it easier for people across our communities to participate, we’ve decided to move our "Older People Shaping Communities: Focus on Leadership" event from an in-person one to an online webinar. Registrations are now being taken via Zoom.

Our Annual Report 2024-2025 is now available for download and review. Access the report -- alongside a list of our current supporters, policy positions, and case studies -- on our website.

Our friends at COTA Australia & OPAN are hosting a Victorian-focussed information session that will explain upcoming reforms to the Aged Care Act. The session is designed for older Victorians, their families, and other supporter. Learn more and register using the link below.

📣 📣 WE'RE HIRING 📣 📣 We're on the lookout for a Business Development Officer! Learn more and apply via Seek using the link below.

Join our #VicSeniorsFestival event, Older People Shaping Communities! 📅 Thursday, 14 October 🕛 10.30 am -12.30 pm 📍 Library at the Dock, Docklands VIC ✅ events.humanitix.com/older-people... Registration is essential.

We invite you to become a member of COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria -- and it's free to join! Learn more and apply at cotavic.org.au/membership

We’d love to hear your perspectives in a short survey on membership. Your input will be vital in helping shape our next 5-year strategy. The survey is here: qau1.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... (Not yet a member? Join today -- it's free! cotavic.org.au/membership)

📢📢 WE'RE HIRING! 📢📢 @cotavic.org.au and @seniorsrights.org.au are looking for a new Office Leader. This role will oversee the daily operations of COTA Victoria’s office, ensuring a smooth and efficient work environment. Learn more using the link below.

Launching on 1 November, Support at Home is a cornerstone of upcoming aged care reforms. Support at Home is designed to help older Victorians remain at home for longer. Read our full statement on its launch, and share your stories with us using the link below.

As part of the #VicSeniorsFestival, our Beyond Age project asks members of the community to reflect upon their lives to showcase different experiences of ageing. 📅 Thursday, 9 October 🕛 12-2 pm 📍 Majorca Room, Melbourne City Library Learn more and register to attend below.

@cotavic.org.au and @seniorsrights.org.au are looking for a new Board member! This voluntary position is part of our larger Board, which is responsible for our overall governance and strategic direction. Learn more and apply using the link below.

@cotavic.org.au and @seniorsrights.org.au are preparing a submission to the Victorian Government on priorities for the 2026-27 State Budget, and we want to hear from you! We invite you to complete our short survey here: forms.office.com/pages/respon...

Ahead of Scams Awareness Week next week, our friends at COTA Australia and Google are offering a free session this coming Friday that will teach you how to recognise and respond to online pitfalls. 📅 Friday, 22 August 2025 🕛 10.00 am - 12.00 pm ✅ cota.org.au/project/free...

Recently, @cotavic.org.au and @seniorsrights.org.au engaged our members on the topics of isolation, loneliness, and connection through a state-wide survey and in-person workshop. You can read our findings from these efforts using the link below.

Our CEO appeared on 7 News last night, asserting that mandatory testing for Victorian drivers should be based on ability. A single loss of life on a Victorian road is one too many; we support any initiatives that will result in a safe environment for all. Watch here: 7plus.com.au/seven-news-m...

Our newest member briefing outlines supports available to those renting in Victoria, changes being made, and what we are advocating for. Access our full publication using the link below.

Our friends at COTA Australia and Google are offering a free scams awareness course for our members and supporters, both in-person and online. The event will take place between 10am - 12 pm on 22 August. Learn more & register your attendance: cotavic.org.au/event/free-s...

Older Victorians have been at the heart of our research, policy, and advocacy efforts. Here's how our Policy and Advocacy team has worked with older people, for older people, ensuring their voices influence real change.

📢📢 WE'RE HIRING! 📢📢 @seniorsrights.org.au, the only Community Legal Centre dedicated to preventing and responding to elder abuse within Victoria, is looking for an Education Officer. Learn more about this fixed term, part-time opportunity using the link below.

We're pleased to announce that our free community education program, #PlanningAhead, is now open to all regional areas of Victoria! It helps people understand the need to protect their rights and wishes as they get older, & to reduce the risk of elder abuse. Learn more using the link below.

We've opened up our final set of 2025 dates for our paid professional education module, "Recognising and Responding to Elder Abuse"! This module will enable your staff to identify incidents of elder abuse and act appropriately. Learn more & register an expression of interest using the link below:

Having trouble keeping on top of your energy bills in these chilling winter months? Our Policy and Advocacy Manager, Marshida Kolthoff, spoke with Citro and detailed strategies you can employ to address unexpected or unmanageable bills.

Our CEO Ben Rogers appeared on 10 News yesterday, asserting that driving should be focussed on ability, not age. "It shouldn't matter whether you're 45 or 75 -- if you are unfit to drive on Victorian roads, you shouldn't be driving on the roads." Watch here: 10.com.au/news/nationa...

We've developed a new guide to support practitioners, policymakers, and organisations across various sectors recognise and respond to #elderabuse. Access the guide in full below.

COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria, in conjunction with the Ethnic Communities'​ Council of Victoria, have undertaken a project to gauge the impact of reform on CHSP providers to multicultural communities.

We're so very pleased to announce our first #VicSeniorsFestival event! You're invited to engage with our #CareFinder team to navigate the aged care system in special (and free!) 30 minute 1:1 sessions either online or via telephone. Bookings essential -- learn more and register below.

Do you know an inspirational Victorian who is helping their community? Nominate an extraordinary senior Victorian today: www.australianoftheyear.org.au/nominate #AusoftheYear #SeeThemHearThemNominateThem

📣📣 WE'RE HIRING! 📣📣 Seniors Rights Victoria, the only Community Legal Centre dedicated to preventing and responding to elder abuse within Victoria, is looking for a new Community Lawyer to join its team.

All people deserve equitable access to disability support, based on need, not age. We urge the government, along with key decision-makers across the ageing and disability sectors, to implement a coordinated Agenda for Action over the next 5 years. Learn more using the link below.

We've released the final block of free tickets to our "Social connection and ageing" event! We'd love to have you along to help us identify opportunities to increase access to services and programs that support Victorians as they age. Learn more: events.humanitix.com/member-event...

Seniors Rights Victoria, COTA Victoria, and Safe and Equal have launched a new partnership to build the capacity of The Orange Door and specialist family violence sector across Victoria in recognising and responding to elder abuse.

Earlier this week, COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria contributed the inquiry into community consultation practices in Victoria. Read our full submission here: cotavic.org.au/policy/submi...

The 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards nomination period has been extended by one week! Submissions now close 11.59 pm on Sunday 8 June 2025, rather than the original deadline of 1 June, so there's still time to organise your submission! Learn more using the link below.

Our World Elder Abuse Awareness Day events calendar continues to grow, detailing all the different #WEAAD events taking place on and around 15 June. Find out what's happening around you, or add your own event to the calendar right here: elderabuseawarenessday.org.au/events/

Ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June, our #BeyondAge online exhibition continues to grow with the help of folks like Marta. Learn more about Beyond Age, #WEAAD itself, and take part in our exhibition at weaad.org.au. Together, let's change the conversation about ageing.

The 2025-26 State Budget was handed down by Treasurer Jaclyn Symes yesterday, 20 May 2025. We've developed a special member briefing to update you on budget announcements, including what initiatives offer direct benefit to older Victorians. Read it in full below.

COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria welcome the Victorian State Budget 2025-26, which offers real progress for older Victorians. However, systemic challenges vital to the health and wellbeing of older Victorians remain largely unaddressed. Read our full media release below.

We welcome a new announcement by the Victorian Gov't to make public transport free for older Victorians during weekends, and remain optimistic that further funding and supports are provided to older Victorians as part of tomorrow’s State Budget. Read our full media release using the link below.

Our Communications Manager, Steve Wright, was the guest on today's #COTAConversations, talking about our extremely important #WEAAD initiative, #BeyondAge. Learn more about Beyond Age here: elderabuseawarenessday.org.au/weaad-2025-b... Listen to the episode: creators.spotify.com/pod/show/cot...

Santosh's advice to his younger self: "Getting older is natural and life is meant to keep moving on an unending road. Don't stop." For #WEAAD 2025, help us change the conversation about #ageing. Learn more about #BeyondAge and take part at weaad.org.au.

A limited number of general admission tickets are now available for our #BeyondAge launch and exhibition on 10 June. Learn more and secure a ticket here: events.humanitix.com/weaad-2025-b...

For World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (#WEAAD) 2025, we've started the #BeyondAge project to change the conversation about #ageism. Learn more and take part in this very important project by visiting weaad.org.au.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended our joint Municipal Association of Victoria and COTA Victoria webinar, "Local planning for healthy ageing", earlier today. In case you missed it, a full replay is available below, alongside our suite of guides.

For World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (#WEAAD) 2025, we've started the #BeyondAge project to change the conversation about #ageism. Learn more and take part in this very important project by visiting weaad.org.au.

COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria are proud to advise that nominations are now open for the COTA Victoria Senior Achiever Awards and the larger 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards program.

COTA Victoria, Seniors Rights Victoria, and our friends at the Municipal Association of Victoria invite you to webinar titled "Local Planning for Healthy Ageing – Evidence, Engagement and Partnerships” on 6 May. Learn more and register to attend using the link below.

We're seeking to better understand if and how people aged 65 and older are staying socially connected and engaged, and what we can do to support stronger connectedness outcomes. We invite you to help out and complete a short, 5-10 minute survey (in which every question is optional!).

We're on the move! We're pleased to inform its members, supporters, and colleagues that we are moving into a new office effective 5 May 2025. Learn more in our full news post, below.