• Charles Sturt will host a free public talk exploring ‘ageing in Australia’ on Thursday September 12 in Albury-Wodonga
• The lecture will explore the challenges of ageing in rural and regional Australia
• Albury-Wodonga residents can learn more about how ageing populations impact their community

The challenges and changes facing ageing populations in rural and regional Australia will be dissected at Charles Sturt University’s (Charles Sturt) free Exploration Series lecture in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday 12 September.

Lecturer in social work and gerontology in the Charles Sturt School of Humanities and Social Sciences Dr Belinda Cash (pictured) will lead a discussion on how changes in social, policy and health care systems are impacting on the choices and experiences of older Australians and caregivers in rural and regional Australia.

Dr Cash said the topics being discussed provide an often-overlooked rural and regional lens on ageing in Australia.

“The discussion topics are applicable to many people in the Albury-Wodonga community,” she said.

“Rural and regional communities in Australia experience population ageing differently to major metropolitan centres.

“Despite this, the distinctive strengths and challenges of rural Australia are often overlooked in macro-level decisions about health and aged care.

“Regional and rural communities need to be distinguished from metropolitan centres when developing responses to meet the health and care needs of older adults.”

Drawing on local research conducted in north-east Victoria, as well as wider national and international knowledge, Dr Cash’s discussion will examine the availability of formal and informal supports to older adults and their caregivers, with a particular focus on the issues of social inequity that can emerge for rural Australians during life.

Charles Sturt’s Director of External Engagement in Albury-Wodonga Ms Samantha Beresford said the University was pleased that the Exploration Series is one way the University can spark discussions around important topics that are impacting communities in our regions.

“We want our Exploration Series to help educate and engage the people within our regions on important issues facing regional and rural Australians,” Ms Beresford said.

“I encourage the residents of Albury-Wodonga to attend this lecture and participate in a debate surrounding ageing and caregiving in our community and other communities in regional and rural Australia.”

Dr Cash is a social worker who specialises in mental health and social gerontology.

She is a researcher with Charles Sturt’s Institute of Land, Water and Society, National President of the Australian Association of Gerontology Student and Early Career Group, and Deputy Lead of the Charles Sturt Ageing Well Cross-Faculty Research Group.

The ‘Ageing in Australia: Changes, choices and challenges’ lecture is being held to mark this year’s Social Sciences Week (9 to 15 September).

The lecture starts at 6pm and concludes at 7.30pm and is being held in building 751, room 104 at Charles Sturt University in Albury-Wodonga, Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

There will be light refreshments and a chance to talk with Dr Cash after the lecture concludes.

Attendees can register for the lecture on the Eventbrite website.