Innovation in ageing for regional communities: planning for productive ageing in the Wide Bay/Burnett region of Queensland

The Program of Innovation in Ageing for Regional Communities research project is a partnership between the University of the Sunshine Coast and the University of Southern Queensland, both with campuses in the Wide Bay Burnett region of Queensland. The project aims to assist regional communities to better understand and address increases in the percentage of older people in their populations. It focuses on practical steps of experimentation, demonstrator projects, evaluating technology, development and implementation of standards, change management, and the development of rigorous financial cases for investment incorporating how benefits will be realised. This paper outlines the approach of the project and describes how it undertook GIS (geographic information system) research to better understand demographics of ageing in the Wide Bay Burnett region.