About
Love getting older in Queensland.
Share your love this October with the return of Queensland Seniors Month.
The month-long celebration, held from 1—31 October, will promote positive community attitudes towards older people and ageing, provide opportunities for community participation to enhance community connections, and celebrate older Queenslanders and their ongoing contribution to the state—whether as volunteers or in the workforce, community leaders or carers, grandparents, or advocates.
Seniors Month is all about increasing the social connectedness of older people and their communities, and we want older people to be:
- connected to their communities and the important people in their lives.
- cared for and supported if care and support are needed.
- celebrated as valued community members.
Show your love for older Queenslanders by planning and hosting inclusive events and activities and supporting older Queenslanders to share what they love, such as their:
- Love for connections,
- Love for sport, recreation, and the outdoors,
- Love for family and friends,
- Love for contributing to their community,
- Love for learning,
- Love for caring for others; and
- Love for volunteering.
The Seniors Month Grant program is funded by the Queensland Government and the total grant funding available is $100,000.
Eligible applicants can apply for a grant up to $2,000 to host events and activities. Grant applications are open from Friday 1 March – Monday 15 April 2024. Find out more on the 2024 Seniors Month Grant page.
Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland coordinates Queensland Seniors Month on behalf of the Queensland Government and receives funding to collaboratively plan, run and subsidise events and activities.
Stay up to date by visiting this website often, signing up to the e-newsletter on the home page, and following us on Facebook.
Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland coordinates Queensland Seniors Month on behalf of the Queensland Government and receives funding to collaboratively plan, run and subsidise events and activities.
This program supports the building of Age-friendly communities in Queensland.
An age-friendly community encourages people of all ages to take part in community activities. People are treated with respect, regardless of their age. They can stay in touch with people they care about and find the services and support they need if they need it. Age-friendly communities are more liveable for everyone. The added benefits include helping people to live in their homes for longer and to be more involved in their communities.
Frequently asked questions:
Is Seniors Month a national event?Presently the states and territories celebrate Seniors Months or Weeks at different times of the year. This makes Queensland Seniors Month, unique to Queenslanders.
What are the dates of Seniors Month?
Beginning on Tuesday 1 October, the United Nations International Day of Older Persons, Queensland Seniors Month will include National Grandparents Day, on Sunday 27 October before ending on 31 October 2024.
What is the theme?
Seniors Month 2024’s theme is Love Getting Older in Queensland-celebrating older Queenslanders as the heart and soul of our communities and encouraging people of all ages, cultures, and ability to connect and celebrate.
What are the objectives?
The three objectives of Queensland Seniors Month 2024 are for Queensland Seniors to be:
- Connected to their community through inclusive events that are culturally inclusive, intergenerational, with opportunities to continue to learn through community education, lifelong learning, and digital literacy beyond Seniors Month.
- Cared for and supported through the discovery of supports and services, and events that encourage older Queenslanders to live active and healthy lives with improved physical and mental wellbeing.
- Celebrated for the contribution they make as workers, volunteers, carers, and community leaders.
How it all started
COTA Queensland initiated the first Queensland Seniors Week in October 1960, and it was originally known as Old people’s Week.
More than six decades on, the now Queensland Seniors Month provides opportunities to promote positive community attitudes towards older people and ageing, facilitate community participation, and enhance community connections, aligning with the Queensland Government’s and Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland’s vision of building Age-friendly communities in Queensland.
Who is COTA Queensland?
COTA Queensland is a for purpose registered charity. We are committed to advancing the rights, needs, interests, and futures of people as we age.
Our vision is that ageing in Queensland is a time of possibility, opportunity and influence.
Committed to speaking out on the impact of systemic inequalities, disadvantage and discrimination to achieve our vision.
Together with older people, community organisations, service providers, peak agencies, researchers, Governments, and the COTAs around Australia, we inform and influence.
Overall we advocate through membership of advisory committees, public statements, submissions, and support programs that align with our objectives.
To find out more click here.
