A VICTORIA Park seniors village hub has set a goal to almost double their membership this year after already having more than 200 members in their first year of operation.
More than 100 people attended the Connect Victoria Park’s Village Hub’s first birthday celebration high tea yesterday.
Connect Victoria Park’s Village Hub is the first initiative in WA and the second in Australia to provide services and social opportunities for people over 55 years of age.
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READ NOWVillage Hub member Tricia Young said the plan for 2019 was to increase their membership from 215 to more than 400 people.
“We’re trying to encourage younger members as well because you don’t just retire, you have to prepare,” she said.
Connect Victoria Park chief executive Luke Garswood said during their first year, they started to change the idea from older age being a time for sitting back to being a time for active community connection.
“For example, people who don’t have family close by could attend a BYO lunch on Christmas Day, it was organised by Village Hub members for Village Hub members,” he said.
The Village Hub offers opportunities for members to propose and develop their own courses, modelled after the village hubs in the United States for redefining ageing.
Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt said this Village Hub would hopefully be the start to more hubs opening, with City of Kalamunda already considering having one.
“Those 400 members would talk to other families on what you do,” he said.
“Anything you do shouldn’t be limited by our national mindset that once you’re 60, you’re old.”