Jump to: Full resource guide | Targeted guides | Webinars
COTA Victoria has a long-standing commitment to support councils’ plans for healthy ageing. Working with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and leading councils, we have now developed a suite of new resource materials to help drive the important local efforts that councils provide in supporting older people to be healthy, active, and engaged.
Our work in this area is strongly tied to the Victorian Government’s framework for MPHWP and the World Health Organisation’s Age-Friendly Communities Global Network.
Full resource guide
Our full resource guide, created in July 2024, aims to support councils across Victoria to incorporate a stronger, evidence-based focus on healthy ageing in their next Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Planning (MPHWP). It has been developed by COTA Victoria in conjunction with MAV, with input from leading councils and older Victorians.
The resource is designed to support councils incorporate a stronger, evidence-based focus on healthy ageing in their next MPHWP, due in 2025.
The guide is designed to stimulate discussion within councils and with community partners. It recognises the variation between councils in how they approach planning for healthy ageing, in the context of MPHWP, council plans, and ageing-specific plans.
Targeted guides
Download guide for councillors
Download guide for community members
Download guide for local government managers
In March 2025, we created three targeted guides designed for councillors, community members, and local government managers.
Our guide for councillors offers advice on how representatives can play an effective role in planning for healthy ageing. It complements other broad advice promoting community health and wellbeing.
Our guide for community members explains what local councils across Victoria are required to do to plan for good health and wellbeing for all, and how individuals can get involved.
Finally, our guide for local government managers — who may not have direct responsibility for health or ageing — details how one can contribute by leveraging other council functions to support healthy ageing.
Webinars
Local planning for healthy ageing (6 May 2025)
Alongside the MAV, our most recent webinar included presentations and discussions with leading councils and public health experts.
Building healthy ageing into MPHWP (July 2024)
Together with the MAV, we presented a launch event to present our original guide to interested parties back in July 2024.