CLAIR Forum

CLAIR Provides Important International Forum for Discussion of Local Government and Ageing Issues

Following on from the success of the CLAIR Forum in Perth last February, on Wednesday 6 October, CLAIR Sydney hosted its second CLAIR Forum for 2004 at the Adelaide Town Hall. The theme of the Forum was: Local Government Responses to Ageing Communities: An International Perspective.

The issue of an ageing society is particularly relevant to South Australia , which was identified in the State Government's Population Policy as having the oldest population of all States and Territories. Timed to immediately precede the Local Government Association of South Australia's Annual General Meeting, the Forum was well-attended by both elected representatives and senior staff of local governments around the State. Also assembled were members of aged care industry organisations, State and Federal Government representatives and university academics.

Proceedings commenced with official words from Mr Takahiro Kiuchi, Chairman of CLAIR Headquarters in Tokyo, and the Rt Hon Michael Harbison, Lord Mayor of Adelaide, followed by an introduction to the key issues by Prof Graeme Hugo, of the University of Adelaide. Keynote addresses were delivered by Cr John Legoe, President of the Local Government Association of South Australia and Mr Akira Shimazu, President of the Japan Academy for Municipal Personnel. Later, delegates were treated to talks by guest speakers from State and local governments in South Australia , as well as speakers from Japan and South Korea.

 

A lively question and answer session followed each speaker's presentation, with delegates keen to hear cross-cultural comparisons of planning, finance and funding, intergovernmental and interagency collaboration on aged community services, and examples of successful initiatives. Master of Ceremonies for the day, Executive Director of the South Australian Office of Local Government, Mr John Comrie, thanked CLAIR for holding the Forum in SA and said: “feedback indicated delegates found participation extremely worthwhile. Attendees noted for example that Professor Hugo stressed that older people are active volunteers and councils can help ensure their willingness and skills are harnessed for community benefit. Participants were also interested to learn of the similar issues facing Japan and South Korea and the implications and responses there.”

Our thanks go to the Local Government Association and Office of Local Government Association, for helping make this event such a success.

If you wish to receive a free copy of the proceedings of the 2004 CLAIR Forum in Adelaide (containing transcripts of speeches and presentations), please contact CLAIR Sydney.