AC99 - Newsletter and IYOP Initiatives

	Newsletter and IYOP Initiatives Australian Coalition '99

AC '99 Update - Edition No. 3 (August 1998)
LATEST NATIONAL PARTNERS' NEWS

On Track with Kamahl

Australian Coalition '99 National is delighted to report that Kamahl has agreed to become involved in the production of the SBS Commemorative IYOP CD for next year. As the leading performer, Kamahl will be actively involved in the development of the CD, and has agreed to act as a spokesperson for Australian Coalition ’99 throughout 1999. In June 1998, SBS Radio broadcast a national advertisement inviting expressions from older musicians (groups and individuals) to perform on the CD. We have a long list of potential performers and the national working group is in the process of selecting musicians.

Volunteering Around the Nation

Towards the end of this year, Australian Red Cross National will be launching two national programs, Community Action and Community Challenge,

which will have an IYOP focus throughout 1999. Community Action will involve primary school and lower secondary school children as part of the school curriculum. Community Challenge is a voluntary program for middle and upper secondary students. Both programs aim to educate young people on volunteering, and to create inter-generational relationships between groups of students and older people in local communities.

The Australian Red Cross is interested to hear from older persons’ organisations around Australia that want to learn how to become involved in these exciting programs.

Enquiries:
Ms Ruth Richter, Australian Red Cross,
Telephone: (03) 9345 1800
Email: rricher@nat.redcross.org.au
Your organisation may be active in bringing this information to the attention of your older members.

Arthritis Foundation Turns Its hand to Art

The Arthritis Foundation of Australia is partnering SBS and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia in the development of the National Regional Touring Exhibition of Works by Older Artists and Craftspeople.

The Arthritis Foundation of Australia has generously contributed funding to the research, planning and development stage of the exhibition, and a Freelance Curator has been appointed. She is currently developing the theme of the exhibition in a consultative process with older artists.

Enquiries:
Ms Jo Cohen, Freelance Curator, mobile 0412 827 315 or
Ms Christine Hume-Cook, Arthritis Foundation of Victoria, telephone: (03) 9530 0255.

The Hammond Care Group

The Hammond Care Group, a charity specialising in aged care and dementia services, is working with industry and the Commonwealth Government to produce a successful photographic exhibition and competition, Images of Of Our Elders. The annual project was launched six years ago and is supported by outstanding Australians including Betty Churcher, Morris West, Hazel Hawke, John Hinde, Lois O'Donoghue, Tom Uren and Bryce Courteney.

Enquiries:
Ms Helen Carter, The Hammond Care Group,
Telephone: (02) 9248 0403

Deafness Forum of Australia

Deafness Forum of Australia is currently speaking to the Department of Veterans Affairs about ways to raise awareness of veterans who have hearing impairments. Discussions have also been held with Council on the Ageing (Australia) to identify ways in which the two organisations can assist each other. Specific action has been initiated with Aged Care Australia to work together on the development of a policy on meeting the needs of people with hearing impairments who reside in the residential care facilities operated by their members.

Enquiries:
Mr Brian Rope, Deafness Forum of Australia
Telephone: (02) 6281 3934

PROGRAMS PROMOTING LIFE-LONG LEARNING

The development of a valuable OPAL
OPAL (Older People and Adult Learning) is a new project initiated by ASPBAE, the Asia South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education, auspiced in Australia by Australian Association of Adult and Community Education (AAACE).

The aim of the project is to provide ways and means by which older people can study subjects of interest that have never been available to them. Subjects range from more basic courses including adult literacy and health care to more complex ones such as physics or astronomy.

Funding for OPAL activities is minimal so members throughout the Asia Pacific region will be exchanging information about programs that may be established in different countries. The different groups throughout Asia Pacific will vary widely according to the needs and aspirations of the individuals involved. For example, the programs of a community centre in a rural village near Katmandu in Nepal where older people have few opportunities to participate in adult education will be completely different from those of a University of the Third Age in Australia.

For more information, please write to:
Ms Dorothy Braxton, OPAL Coordinator, AAACE
PO Box 308, Jamison Centre, ACT, 2614
Fax: (02) 6261 7935 or e-mail:dbraxton@pcug.org.au

Learning Circles
The Australian Association of Adult and Community Education reports on an exciting new retirement village program called "Learning Circles" that has been launched in the SE region of NSW.

The program involves the formation of discussion groups and the services of volunteers who are willing to act as discussion leaders. The discussions are held monthly, on various topics - WIK; Writing a Book; El Nino; Euthanasia; Ancient Philosophers; The Asian Meltdown; Censorship; Recycling - to name a few. The success of the project is due to the level of ownership that the retirement village residents have of the program - the groups choose their topics with no input from the coordinators.

There are more than ten Learning Circles that have been established to date, and participating members of retirement villages are reported to be demonstrating unprecedented levels of participation and enthusiasm.

For more information:
Mr Barry Russell, AAACE, PO Box 308, Jamison Centre, ACT, 2614
Telephone:(02) 4228 9406