Queensland Seniors

29/09/2026

Planning your future health care can be difficult, but Barry and his wife made the process a bit more enjoyable with some good food and w**e.

Advance care planning helps you document your future health care preferences and appoint a trusted decision maker to act on your behalf if needed.

Barry's advice for anyone who has been putting off their advance care planning is simple, "Don't. It makes you think about things. It makes you think about your family, what happens here and what happens there. It makes you think about the consequences of not doing it."

Read Barry's story below, or to learn more about the planning process, visit 👉 www.qld.gov.au/health/support/advance-care-planning/making-a-plan

[Image description: Barry, an older gentleman, sitting in a chair, smiling at the camera.]

When Barry and his wife started talking about advance care planning (ACP), they did it over some good food and w**e—a weekly ritual they've had for nearly 60 years. 🥰

Earlier this year, Barry had a fall at home, and when his wife wasn't able to help him up, he was taken to Redland Hospital.

'I was suffering from a knee and hip problem, they locked up and I fell over and lost some skin,' he said.

'My wife couldn't get me up off the floor, so they had to transport me here.'

It was at Redland Hospital that Barry and his wife made the difficult decision that moving into residential aged care would be the safest next step for him. 🏠

'We weren't all that happy about it to start off with,' Barry said.

'But it's a change in life. It changes everyone's life, and you create a whole new world.'

Like many people, Barry and his wife had a will and had briefly talked about appointing an enduring power of attorney, but they'd never taken the next step.

'I hadn't given it much thought. You think you're going to be here forever.'

It wasn't until ACP Clinical Nurse Consultant Lisa visited Barry in the hospital, that he realised how important those conversations were.

ACP involves thinking about and discussing what future health care you do and don't want.

You can record these choices in ACP forms. You can also appoint someone you trust to make health or financial decisions for you. This is a substitute decision-maker.

When Barry decided to get the ball rolling on his ACP, his wife brought the oysters and w**e, so they could enjoy it while they looked over everything. 🍷🥰

'We had a nice glass of w**e and dinner to discuss it. We've always enjoyed trying different cuisines together, and we'll keep doing it.'

Barry said although his wife is in good health, he encouraged her to complete her ACP as well.

'I made sure she was fully informed about the process and what she needed to do,' he said.

With Lisa guiding him through the process, Barry found completing his ACP straightforward.

'I was an accountant, so the process was easy for me. Lisa was also very thorough going through everything with us.'

Barry's advice for anyone who has been putting off their ACP is simple.

'Don't. It makes you think about things. It makes you think about your family, what happens here and what happens there. It makes you think about the consequences of not doing it.'

Thank you for sharing your ACP journey with us, Barry! We hope you're well. 🫶

29/09/2026

National Carers Week 2026 (11–17 October) is an opportunity to recognise, celebrate and support Queensland's 642,000+ carers who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends. 🤍

If you are a carer, join Carers Queensland this October for a series of events designed with you in mind — a chance for you to feel recognised, connect with others and take time for yourself.

Register for a series of free webinars featuring lived experience voices and practical advice for older carers:
📅 1 October – Starting your carer journey: What I wish I knew.
📅 6 October – Balancing work and care: Support and training for working carers.
📅 8 October – Caring for yourself while caring for others.
📅 15 October – Supporting a loved one through a hospital stay.

Whether you're new to caring or have been on the journey for years, these sessions offer practical insights, real-life experiences and helpful strategies to support you in your caring role.

Register today and join Carers Queensland online👉 https://collections.humanitix.com/carers-queensland-webinars

To find out more about National Carers Week, visit 👉 https://carersqld.com.au/news-events/national-carers-week

We are proud to support National Carers Week and acknowledge the diversity, strength and contribution of carers of all ages and backgrounds.



📷: Carers Queensland

[Image description: A person sitting on the floor with a young child, playing with colourful building blocks in an indoor living space. The child is holding a blue block while the other person sits closely behind them. Decorative blue and pink curved graphic ribbons sweep across the left and right sides of the image. At the top, a dark blue banner contains the words 'Care is everywhere' in large blue text, accompanied by a pink heart-shaped line graphic. At the bottom of the image, over a dark gradient overlay, the text reads 'Carers Week Queensland 11–17 October'.]

Celebrate the immense contribution of unpaid carers during National Carers Week. Join us in saying 'Thank You' and find local events to honor their work.

28/09/2026

Senior discounts and concessions can often be hiding in plain sight.

Whether it's savings on everyday expenses, travel, utilities or activities, it pays to know what's available.

The concessions and rebates finder website is a simple way for Queensland seniors to discover cost-of-living support they may be eligible for.

🔎 Find concessions and rebates at www.concessionsfinder.services.qld.gov.au

The website is just one way we are helping seniors manage everyday costs and supporting a better lifestyle through a stronger economy, leaving more room to enjoy everything Queensland has to offer.

[Image description: A photograph of two older people sitting on their lounge chair at home, looking at a tablet and talking.]

26/09/2026

🌍 Today is World Tourism Day. 🌍

As Queenslanders, we are so lucky to have many of the world's top tourist destinations right in our backyard.

From sun-soaked beaches, colourful reefs, mountain ranges, sprawling outback landscapes, ancient culture, cutting-edge cities, and some pretty cute fauna to top it off, we've got it all! 🏖️⛰️🏙️ 🐨

The Queensland Government’s Destination 2045 plan will position our state as a global leader in tourism, supporting richer visitor experiences, more jobs and better infrastructure.

We'd love to hear your favourite underated Queensland destinations below. 👇 Perhaps your local coffee shop or favourite picnic spot that hasn't been discovered yet. Let's put it on the map!

To find out more about Queensland's Destination 2045 plan, visit www.detsi.qld.gov.au/tourism/destination-2045



[Image description: older gentleman holding a young child's hands, laughing on a picnic rug. They sit next to a picnic basket in a park.]

25/09/2026

If you enjoy birdwatching, spending time outdoors, or volunteering with wildlife organisations, please report any sick or dead birds, wildlife or marine mammals you encounter. Ensure you avoid contact with them and record what you see.

Community vigilance helps keep Queensland safe and your report can provide valuable information for Queensland's H5 bird flu surveillance program.

📞 Emergency Animal Disease Hotline: 1800 675 888 (24/7)

💻 Report online: https://bqforms.dpi.qld.gov.au/report-sick-or-dead-wild-birds

Thank you to everyone helping protect Queensland's wildlife and communities through early reporting.

[Image description: A light blue tile with a silhouetted flock of birds flying above. The text reads ‘Report H5 Bird flu, Emergency Animal Disease Hotline 1800 675 888'].

Community reporting is critical in our H5 bird flu surveillance program. To support these efforts, a new online reporting form is available.

If you see sick or dead birds, wildlife or marine mammals, avoid contact, record what you see, and report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 (24/7) or via the new online form here 👉🏻 https://bqforms.dpi.qld.gov.au/report-sick-or-dead-wild-birds

Thank you to all members of the community for your continued reporting assistance.

📸 Image courtesy of S. Templeton

24/09/2026

Seniors Month is almost here! 🥳

This October, Seniors Month is your chance to get involved in activities, meet new people and celebrate the contributions of older Queenslanders. 🫶

From fitness classes and art and craft workshops to concerts, social gatherings and community events, there are plenty of opportunities to connect with others and enjoy what's on offer in your local area.

📅 Find events happening near you or register your own event at www.qldseniorsmonth.org.au.




[Image description: Navy blue background with various shades of blue hearts creating the shape of Queensland. The text reads, “Queensland Seniors Month 2026. Connect and Celebrate. A time to shine. Funded by the Queensland Government, Council of the Ageing, Queensland.”]

22/09/2026

Do you have a favourite Australian book?

Whether it's a classic you've read many times over or a story you've recommended to friends and family, now is your chance to help celebrate Australia's most loved books.

ABC Radio National is inviting readers to vote for the Top 100 Australian Books of all time. 📚

Share your vote and help recognise the Australian stories that have entertained and inspired us over the years 👉 https://ow.ly/jEPh50ZNC2I before voting closes on Thursday 1 October.

[Image description: A graphic showing books, people and iconic Australian imagery such as kangaroos, surfers, a cricket bat and ball, and the words ‘Top 100 Australian books’ with the ABC logo and Radio National at the bottom.]

Radio National's Top 100 Australian Books is here. Vote for your favourites and listen on Sat 17 and Sun 18 October as we count down your votes.

22/09/2026

Are you caring for little ones during the September school holidays? 🏖️

🌐 Whether you’re planning a day trip, looking for free activities or searching for ways to keep the kids entertained, there are plenty of ideas to help make the holidays fun. Explore school holiday activities and destinations 👉 https://ow.ly/TpwU50ZKtMu

[Image description: Two children smiling while eating and drinking outdoors at a café with adults partially visible in the image.]

Spring into the September school holidays Queensland 2026 with family events, free activities, festivals, and fun from Brisbane to Cairns.

21/09/2026

This week is Dementia Action Week. 📢

Dementia affects many Queenslanders, whether through their own diagnosis or supporting a family member or loved one.

Talking about dementia can help people feel understood, supported and less alone.

By starting conversations, we can:
🩵 reduce stigma and descrimination
🧠 improve understanding of dementia
🤝 encourage people to seek support.

Every conversation can show someone that it's safe to speak up and that they aren't alone.

ℹ️ To learn more about dementia and available support, visit https://www.dementia.org.au/

[Image description: Two people seated side by side at their dining table, in conversation, with their kitchen in the background.]

https://youtu.be/MH4_T-HqRXI?si=pAi2OPnp8OL2sfv9

We’re pleased to share this year’s theme for Dementia Action Week: ...

20/09/2026

How big was your biggest hair era? 💇‍♀️✨

Mari Wilson once said, "The more famous I got, the bigger my beehive got!" Her towering hairstyle took more than 45 minutes to create and was described as "like architecture" made entirely of backcombing, hairspray and determination.

It got us thinking...

👑 What was your most memorable hairstyle?

Was it a sky-high beehive, a perm that could survive a cyclone, feathered layers, a mullet, a pixie cut, a bouffant or an afro that turned heads wherever you went?

📸 We'd love to see photos and hear the stories behind your favourite, funniest, or most iconic hairdo. The style that defined your decade, broke all the rules, or simply made you feel fabulous!

Bonus points if it required a whole can of hairspray! 😄

Share your photos and memories in the comments below. 👇💕

[Image description: a black and white photograph of a glamorous woman wearing white gloves and jewellery, her hair is styled in a beehive.]

‘I was trying to bring back some glamour. The backcombed hair was like architecture really. It took more than 45 minutes to style’