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Getting active in the International Year of Older Persons 1999

Looking for a tangible way of highlighting the International Year of Older Persons in your area? Linking in with the Active Australia International Year of Older Persons project may be an option.

The project, launched at a function by the Prime Minister in Canberra on 19 February, aims to increase the involvement of older Australians in physical activity.

Some 50% of older Australians are not regularly active, and therefore miss many of the physical, social and psychological benefits which physical activity can bring.

The Active Australia International Year of Older Persons project highlights the benefits of being more physically active.

It also introduces the fact that 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week, things like walking, dancing, swimming and gentle exercise, can result in improved health and well being.

What's more, if 30 minutes of moderate exercise seems a bit too much to start with, you can take it in blocks of ten or fifteen minutes.

The project involves a media campaign centred around a television advertisement featuring 'Rusty', a metal clad character who is just a little 'rusty' and is starting to get involved in a range of different activities.

As his name suggests, the character builds on the concept of 'feeling a little rusty' if you are not active on a regular basis, and the benefits which can be gained through regular exercise.

A brochure and poster support the TV commercial. Copies are available from the Australian Sports Commission on (02) 6214 1915 or email pubs@ausport.gov.au

The television commercials will be going to air in NSW and Victoria in March, with a number of other states to follow later in the year. A national PR/media strategy will also be running through the year to support the campaign.

A new publication, 'Actively Ageing', has also been developed by the Australian Sports Commission to profile innovative physical activity programs for older Australians, provide hints and strategies for those marketing physical activity programs and detail opportunities created through the International Year of Older Persons.

This free publication is available from the ASC's publication section on (02) 6214 1915 or email pubs@ausport.gov.au

How can Local Councils link with the Active Australia IYOP project?

The project provides a great opportunity to highlight the physical activity needs and options available to older Australians in your locality. Below are some ideas for linking into the project.

	Distribute print materials supporting the campaign. Bulk copies of national materials are available from the Australian Sports Commission.
	Include material on physical activity for older Australians in Council newsletters and publications. Check out the campaign brochure for information.
	Set up a display about physical activity options for seniors in the local library or community centre. You may be able to get some of the local organisations who offer programs to attend.
	Let the local seniors organisations in your area know about the project and suggest that they might invite local organisers of physical activity programs, such as a Gentle Exercise Class instructor, along to demonstrate their sessions.
	Take a look at Actively Ageing. The publication provides lots of information about how different organisations, from local Councils to nursing homes, have organised physical activity programs for older Australians. You may also like to promote the publication to some of the seniors organisations or sport and recreation groups in your area. Bulk copies are available from the Australian Sports Commission.
	Use the International Year of Older Persons as an opportunity to assess what physical activity opportunities are available to older people in your area. Consider running a public forum for older persons to discuss issues in relation to physical activity programs and possible solutions. Where are the gaps in provision, what are the concerns, and what can be done to address these?
	Promote the 7th Australian Masters Games and/or Masters Games participants from your area in the lead up to the games to be held in Adelaide 25 September to 3 October.
	Use 1 October 1999 - the 9th International Day of Older Persons as a focus.
	Contact your local school, health centre and sport and recreation clubs to look at a coordinated approach to IYOP 99 in your area.
	Coordinate a physical activity expo for seniors. Invite local sport and recreation clubs to do demonstrations or just provide information about what activities they offer.
	Contact your Local Government Sport and Recreation Contact Officer to obtain information on case studies which relate specifically to older adults' involvement.

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