Western Australia led the way in placing healthy ageing on the national agenda by convening the country’s first Active Ageing Taskforce and adopting Australia’s first Active Ageing Strategy, with a commitment of $3.1 million for the first 4 years.

The vision behind the Strategy is the creation of a fair society where all older people can lead satisfying and productive lives which maximise their independence and well-being.

The Active Ageing Strategy focuses on developing coordinated, across government programs in five priority areas of:

• Health and wellbeing
• Employment and learning
• Community awareness and participation
• Protection and security
• Planning and the built environment

Major initiatives implemented since the launch of the strategy in 2004 include;

• Active Ageing Strategy - Generations Together: 2004 - 2008 Report
• Generations Together: A Progress Report of the Western Australian Active Ageing Strategy - 2006
• Transitions in Ageing Research
• Western Australia's Seniors - Active Ageing Benchmark Indicators
• The Mature Aged Employment Strategy – Department for Consumer and Employment Protection
• The Local Level Initiatives Grants program – Department for Local Government and Regional Development
• The Stay on Your Feet Campaign – Health Department of Western Australia
• Depression Prevention and Awareness – Office for Seniors Interests and Volunteering
• Elder Abuse Prevention - Office for Seniors Interests and Volunteering and the Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance
• Active Ageing Scorecard, Status Report - Office for Seniors Interests and Volunteering
• Community Linkage Officers appointed in Geraldton and Albany - Office for Seniors Interests and Volunteering
• Seniors Recreation Council funding - Office for Seniors Interests and Volunteering

The Office for Seniors Interests and Volunteering coordinates evaluation and reporting and development of new initiatives to continue the Active Ageing Strategy.