The City of Melbourne’s neighbourhood centres play an important role in making the city’s growing seniors population stay more connected, supported and enriched.
On any given week, the newly refurbished Jean McKendry Neighbourhood Centre in North Melbourne hosts many different seniors groups, who socialise over meals, learn new skills, maintain their culture, language and traditions.
In the lively and bustling hub, the Spanish Speaking Elderly Group North Melbourne holds regular social gatherings, while the members of the African Elderly Community Association meet for a chat and to play cards.
Dancing brings together both the North Melbourne Chinese Association, which enjoys popular ballroom dances, and members of the Chinese Arts Association of Melbourne, who love to perform traditional dance and singing.
Creative members of the North and West Melbourne Seniors Group spend the day painting and sketching, while the Australian Multicultural Community Services group meets in the main hall to exercise and sing karaoke.
“We really enjoy this space. To us it is a necessity,” says Vera Durovic, president of the Slavic Women’s group ‘Nase Zene’, which uses the revamped kitchen to cook “home-food” like chicken paprikash and cabbage rolls.
“It means a lot to the women to stay in contact with each other. Many of the older women have lost their husbands and friends and are lonely. This is the only time they come out.
“We appreciate the space at Jean McKendry very much and enjoy coming together to cook, eat and share stories,” says Vera.
The Jean McKendry Neighbourhood Centre is just one of three hubs in the City of Melbourne that offer free and low-cost activities to seniors.
“Our neighbourhood and senior citizens centres at North Melbourne, South Yarra and Kensington are a great place for older Melburnians to feel supported, connected and enriched,” says Health, Wellbeing and Belonging portfolio lead, Councillor Dr Olivia Ball.
“From regular community meals and afternoon teas to groups focused on gardening, exercise, reading, music, art and culture – there really is a group for everyone.”
Ensuring seniors from ethnic communities are valued and included members of the community is one of the goals of the City of Melbourne’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, Melbourne: A Great Place to Age.
“The diversity of older people visiting, working and living in Melbourne is one of our great strengths – adding to the vibrancy of our community,” says Lord Mayor Sally Capp.
“Over the next 20 years, the number of people aged 60 and over living in our city will more than triple to 53,000.
“We continue to deliver a wide range of initiatives to support our older community members, including regional assessment services, healthy ageing and social support, neighbourhood centres and community education programs.”
How to get involved
More information on the City of Melbourne’s programs for older people, their carers, families, and friends can be found in the 2023 Out and About Guide.
You can pick up a copy at any library, neighbourhood or community hub in the City of Melbourne.
To stay up to date with the latest news and opportunities in the City of Melbourne, you can subscribe to the monthly Melbourne: A Great Place to Age e-newsletter via this link.
Alternatively, you can register to receive a quarterly print newsletter sent via post and printed in seven languages (English, Arabic, Greek, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish and Vietnamese).
To subscribe, email Healthy Ageing at healthyageing@melbourne.vic.gov.au
This article was published in the
Winter 2023 edition of Golden Years.