Events and projects

DCJ leads the implementation of Ageing Well in NSW. We are also delivering a number of projects under the strategy. These include:

• a one-off grant program, Reducing Social Isolation for Seniors, that is providing funding to organisations for projects, programs and activities that provide meaningful and lasting social connection opportunities for older people who are socially isolated or at risk of isolation
• Grandparents Day – an annual celebration of the contribution of grandparents and other older people to our families and communities
• Seniors Card – increasing the spread of businesses offering discounts to older people
• NSW Seniors Festival – an annual state-wide festival promoting positive ageing for NSW seniors through events that encourage older people to get involved in art, sport, music, entertainment, technology, travel, recreation, health and practice good nutrition. The festival encourages events at a local level and includes the following highlight projects
• Premier’s Gala Concert – one of the highlight events of the NSW Seniors Festival, these free concerts combine a variety of talent to produce a spectacular show for older people to enjoy
• NSW Seniors Festival Expo – an opportunity to showcase some of the services available to seniors to support a better quality of life
• NSW Seniors Festival Grants – a program providing $200,000 in seed funding to organisations and councils to run events and activities that advocate for positive ageing while contributing to their local communities.

We are also supporting the delivery of other strategy projects through partnerships with not-for-profit and private sector organisations.

In 2020, we delivered a one-off grant program, Combatting Social Isolation for Seniors during COVID-19, that provided funding to organisations to create programs that fostered social inclusion for seniors.

Modified Sport

The Modified Sports program offers low impact sports to help older people lead healthy, active and happy lives.

These are delivered in partnership with Football NSW, Netball NSW, Gymnastics NSW, Softball NSW, Basketball NSW, Table Tennis NSW, Hockey NSW and Dragon Boat NSW.

These modified sports give older people the opportunity to participate in lower-impact versions of these activities tailored for different ability levels.

Set up your own modified sport

The NSW Government has produced a Toolkit (PDF, 1.2 MB) that can be used to support other sporting codes to adapt their sports for seniors. The Modified Sports program evaluation (PDF, 1.4 MB) demonstrates the effectiveness of the program.

Tech Savvy Seniors

Tech Savvy Seniors supports older people to improve their digital literacy through low-cost or free training, and online resources for using new technology. It is delivered in partnership with Telstra and provides low-cost or free training so older people can learn to use technology such as computers, tablets and smart phones.