COTA (Council On The Ageing) Tasmania

23/07/2026

Understanding what support is available, and whether Care Finder is right for you or someone you support, can be challenging. Our newly refreshed Care Finder webpage has been designed to make this clearer, simpler and more accessible.

The updated page features a user-friendly layout, with easy-to-follow sections, helpful icons and quick links so you can find key information without having to scroll through long pages. You can also try our new Eligibility Quiz, which helps you better understand if Care Finder is the right service and guides you toward appropriate supports.

We have updated content across the page to reflect recent aged care changes, ensuring information is current and relevant. If Care Finder is not the right fit, the page will still help point you in the right direction, supporting our “no wrong door” approach.

It is now also easier for services and community partners to refer, with referral options clearly positioned and simple to access, supporting stronger connections into the program for older people who need it.

Visit the Care Finder webpage for more information:
https://cotatas.org.au/get-support/care-finder

22/07/2026

At COTA Tasmania, we wanted to better understand how language influences the way we think and talk about ageing. Through extensive community consultation with older people, organisations and community members across Tasmania, we listened, learned and worked together to create our Age-Friendly Language Guide.

This practical guide is designed to help us all use language that is respectful, inclusive and free from ageist stereotypes.

A special thank you to our Rethink Ageing Program Manager, Jane Henriette, whose leadership and dedication made this resource possible.

Download the Age-Friendly Language Guide and use it in your workplace, community, organisation and everyday conversations. Together, we can help create a more age-friendly Tasmania.

Download now:https://cotatas.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/COTA-Age-Friendly-Language-Guide-for-NGOs_WEB-20-July.pdf

20/07/2026

We're proud to share that COTA Tasmania will be presenting at the Australian Elder Abuse Conference 2026, taking place on the Gold Coast from 27 to 29 July.

Our Lifelong Respect Program Manager, Julie, together with our incredible lived experience advocates, Judi and Francene, will be sharing their presentation on Community Awareness and Prevention and the Impact of Lived Experience Advocates.

A special thank you to Julie for her leadership and commitment to elder abuse prevention, and to Judi and Francene for generously sharing their lived experiences to help drive awareness and lasting change. We are incredibly proud to see them representing Tasmania on the national stage.

If you're attending the conference, we'd love to see you there.

Registrations are now open: https://conference.eaaa.org.au

19/07/2026

17/07/2026

Winter is a time when many of us experience coughs, colds and other seasonal illnesses. Knowing where to go for the right care can help you get the support you need, sooner.

If you have a life-threatening emergency, always call 000 or go to your nearest Emergency Department. For many non-emergency health concerns, there are other services that may be more appropriate, including your GP, a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, your local pharmacy, Care@home or healthdirect.

Making the right choice for your health not only helps you receive timely care, but also keeps Emergency Departments available for people with the most urgent needs.

Whether you're looking after your own health or supporting an older family member, it's worth taking a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the treatment options available this winter.

Learn more: https://www.health.tas.gov.au/patients/know-your-treatment-options-right-care-right-place

16/07/2026

Host a FREE stall at COTA Tasmania's first Ageing Together Expo! We're inviting community organisations, businesses, government agencies and service providers to join us for a new event celebrating positive ageing and bringing people of all ages together, with a focus on older Tasmanians.

This is your opportunity to showcase your organisation, connect with the community and share the programs, services or activities that help people stay active, connected and engaged.

Stall registrations are now open and FREE. Registrations close 7 August.

📅 Thursday 1 October 2026
🕚 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
📍 C3 Convention Centre, South Hobart

Register your stall now:
https://cotatas.org.au/events-and-activities/ageing-together-expo-1-october-2026

14/07/2026

From 1 October 2026, eligible Support at Home participants will no longer pay a separate contribution for approved personal care services. This is a positive step that will make personal care more affordable for many older Australians and help reduce the cost of receiving essential support at home.

While this is welcome news, it is important to remember that access to personal care will still be based on an individual's assessed needs, their available Support at Home budget and the availability of local services. Clear, timely information will be essential so older people understand how these changes apply to them and what support they can access.

COTA Tasmania will continue to monitor the rollout of the new Support at Home program and advocate for a system that is easy to understand, equitable and responsive to the needs of older Tasmanians.

13/07/2026

This National Diabetes Week, we're proud to support this year's theme, "You can do anything with diabetes." It reflects the importance of creating a community where everyone has the support they need to live well.

Access to affordable healthy food, timely GP appointments, early diagnosis and diabetes technology all play an important role in helping people stay healthy, independent and connected as they age.

These aren't just diabetes issues. They're healthy ageing issues.

At COTA Tasmania, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to age well, no matter where they live or the challenges they face.

Read More: https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/national-diabetes-week/

10/07/2026

During the WEAAD Walks across Tasmania, many people added their name to COTA Tasmania's Commitment to Action, supporting practical steps to prevent and respond to elder abuse.

The commitment calls for action across a number of important areas, including primary prevention, creating positive cultures, strengthening organisations, improving legal support, building collaboration and partnerships, expanding education, promoting inclusion and investing in more research to better understand and address elder abuse.

Thank you to everyone who walked alongside us during our WEAAD events and showed their support by signing the commitment. We are also grateful to The Honourable Barbara Baker AC, Former Governor of Tasmania, and Emeritus Professor Don Chalmers for joining us and showing their support.

A special thank you to Francene, our lived experience advocate, for generously sharing her story in Hobart. Her honesty and courage reminded us why we must continue working together to prevent elder abuse and create communities where older people feel safe, valued and respected.

Join us in supporting a future where every older Tasmanian can live free from abuse, neglect and ageism.

Sign COTA Tasmania's commitment:
https://cotatas.org.au/events-and-activities/world-elder-abuse-awareness-day

09/07/2026

Volunteers are the backbone of many Tasmanian communities, and older Tasmanians make an enormous contribution through the time, skills and experience they generously share every day.

At COTA Tasmania, we have the privilege of working alongside many dedicated volunteers. We see firsthand the difference they make, whether they're supporting community events, helping others stay connected, sharing knowledge or simply being there when someone needs them.

If you know someone whose dedication deserves recognition, we encourage you to nominate them before 15 July 2026. A nomination can make a lasting impact and is a meaningful way to say thank you.

Thank you to Volunteering Tasmania for recognising the incredible contribution of volunteers through the 2026 Tasmanian Volunteering Awards.

Nominate Now: https://volunteeringtas.org.au/tasmanian-volunteering-awards/