Lismore MP Janelle Saffin says that two local grant recipients will use the State funding to support innovative projects which aim to reduce social isolation among older people in the Lismore district and in the Murwillumbah area.
Today Ms Saffin has congratulated Beating Hearts of Lismore (auspiced by Northern Rivers Community Gateway) and Tweed Shire Council, on securing $30,000 each under the NSW Government’s $840,000 Connecting Seniors Grant Program 2025.
Ms Saffin said the two local groups are among 28 organisations funded in this year’s Connecting Seniors Grant Program across categories including Aboriginal, Multicultural, Creation, Enhancement or Expansion and Local.
‘I’m particularly pleased that the wonderful Beating Hearts of Lismore, co-ordinated by Lismore-based Geriatrician Dr Rachel Jones and her volunteers, will be able to enrich the lives of more local seniors.’
The Northern Rivers Community Gateway will auspice the Beating Hearts of Lismore to expand its weekly volunteer-led singing group, connecting older adults facing social isolation, dementia or Parkinson’s disease, along with their carers. In addition, support the provision of evidence-based dance classes to improve strength, balance and social connection.
Tweed Shire Council – Age Well-Connect will combat senior isolation in the Tweed through activities like technology classes, cooking workshops, falls prevention, cognitive health initiatives and a jazz festival.
Since its launch in 2020, the Connecting Seniors Grant Program has funded more than 120 projects and engaged over 30,000 seniors across 82 Local Government Areas in NSW.
This program supports the Ageing Well in NSW: Seniors Strategy 2021-2031, creating a more inclusive community and addressing isolation and loneliness.
For more information about the grants program and the full list of recipients across the state, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/connecting-seniors-grant-program-2025.
Hopefully they will invest in a public transport system
to connect the elder citizens ….. to me… this is the greatest issue for all our of us , regardless of age .
Lots of great things happening … no way to get to them!!
Ashara, while things could always be better, I’d say we have one of the best bus services around with multiple journeys to multiple locations each day. There are stops everywhere as well as hail and ride. There is community transport which provides a wonderful service for people needing to get to shopping and appointments but also for social/entertainment occasions.
I’d suggest, in Byron Bay in particular, and people who rely on it, the problem is the opposite. Plenty of opportunities to get to events that are not seniors friendly but oriented to the Byron youth market and “vibe”. The Community Centre is attempting to expand its seniors program but there is a dearth of low cost opportunities for less mobile seniors to meet, network, gently exercise their brains and bodies and be entertained in ways that might suit their musical and auditory tastes.
Have a look at the offerings of Ballina/Byron U3A for example – that are all in Ballina. We have a smaller population but that’s not the whole explanation.
Yes ! Transport is critical .
But they have just let the village idiots destroy the rail-line for a horsey and bike track.
Did you get a vote on that Ashara ?
How did the “Brave New World”, “The Lucky Country” with all our resources, turn into Daria’s “Sick Sad World” ?
‘ Cheer up things could be worse ‘….. or just watch while they do. G”)
My wife has Parkinson’s disease, adding PD-5 to her nighttime Parkinson’s meds has completely changed her sleep issues. she slept all day and up all night, we had to hire care nurses. Now using this PD-5 medicine for the last six months and a normal routine she sleeps almost completely through the night, and may get up once to use the restroom. It’s improved so much we were able to let go of the night nurses. This medicine also helps a ton with memory. we got the treatment from Uinehealth centre . com