Core Challenge Themes:
Shaping the future of Ageing Well on the Central Coast
The Central Coast Health & Wellbeing Living Lab (CCLL) was established with the goal of supporting innovative solutions that empower people to age well in their communities. Through community consultations, we engaged with residents, healthcare professionals, industry leaders, and researchers to identify the most pressing challenges and opportunities for healthy ageing.
These discussions helped us refine our strategic priorities into three key themes that guide our work:
Community Connection: Fostering stronger social ties to combat isolation and loneliness.
Shaping Life-Long Health: Promoting proactive and preventative health measures to ensure older people enjoy longer, healthier lives.
Support at Home: Supporting older people to live safely and independently at home.
We are addressing these challenges one theme at a time. In 2024 we lead with the Community Connection theme based on community feedback prioritising efforts to combat social isolation and loneliness among older people.
1. Community Connection
How might we enhance community connection to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people?
Why this matters: Recent findings from the Council on the Ageing (COTA) NSW Voices of Solitude survey highlight the significant challenges older people face with loneliness and social isolation. Of the 2,200 individuals aged 50 and above surveyed, 60% reported experiencing loneliness, 25% enduring extreme levels, and 50% identified as socially isolated.
The scale of the problem has driven action at the state level, with the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Loneliness launched in August 2024 to investigate its prevalence, causes, and effects across New South Wales. This inquiry emphasises the urgency of addressing loneliness as a public health priority, especially among older populations.
What We’re Doing: To tackle these challenges, we’ve consulted extensively with the community to understand the barriers and opportunities for building stronger connections. Following this, we called for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to collaborate on innovative projects addressing social isolation and loneliness.
We are excited to announce that we’ve selected several collaborators and look forward to sharing more details about these projects in 2025.
2. Shaping Life-Long Health
How might we, together with individuals and communities, build on strengths to prevent illness and shape healthier futures?
Why this matters
Australians are living longer than ever, but too many of those later years are spent in poor health. More than 80% of people aged 65 and over are affected by chronic conditions, creating significant challenges for individuals, families, and the healthcare system.
Proactive and preventative measures can shift this trajectory. By supporting older people to maintain independence and wellbeing, we can help ensure longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. Reframing ageing around vitality, connection, and capability benefits everyone.
Our commitment
We are committed to advancing physical, mental, and emotional health through innovation in health technologies, health promotion, and community-based interventions. This theme prioritises prevention and lifelong health, supporting older people to lead the lives they value.
In 2025, we will formally launch this theme, Shaping Lifelong Health, building on our work in Community Connection and insights from our consultative and collaborative processes. We are working with communities, researchers, and industry partners to co-create sustainable, impactful solutions that promote wellbeing across the life course.
3. Support at Home (working title)
How might we integrate traditional in-person support with innovative technology-based solutions to assist older people in maintaining their independence for as long as possible?
Why this matters: The majority of older Australians express a strong desire to age in place, with over 90% of community-living older people wanting to stay in their homes (AIHW). However, many face challenges such as inadequate support services, unsafe environments, and limited access to technology, which can hinder their ability to live independently. Addressing these barriers is essential to promote autonomy and dignity for ageing individuals.
Our Commitment:
Building on the focus of Community Connection and Shaping Lifelong Health, we are dedicated to developing practical solutions that empower older people to live independently and safely in their homes. This includes exploring technological advancements, care services, and home design innovations.
As changes to the Aged Care Act are anticipated and to avoid confusion with the incoming “Support at Home” packages, we are considering a new name for this theme to reflect these developments while maintaining our focus on supporting independent living.
These themes reflect our commitment to addressing the key challenges of ageing well on the Central Coast. They anchor our mission to co-create and implement impactful, sustainable solutions that improve lives. As we continue to evolve, we remain dedicated to ensuring our approach is inclusive, responsive, and aligned with the changing needs of our region.
Want to see our Living Lab in action?
Explore the projects and initiatives we’re working on with the community, researchers, and industry.