Overview

The Celebrate Ageing team includes the Founder/Director Dr Catherine Barrett and a group of elders. Catherine has been working with older people for over 30 years as a clinician, educator, researcher, academic and capacity builder. At the National Elder Abuse Prevention Conference in 2013 that Catherine recognised the need to establish a program addressing ageism as a strategy for the primary prevention of Elder Abuse. Celebrate Ageing was formally launched at the 2016 National Elder Abuse Prevention Conference.

​​The Celebrate Ageing Program is guided by an executive of older people. These experts have been involved in Program design and review. There are currently 15 members and we hope that this will grow over time. The partnership with older people on the executive recognises their expertise and models the importance of respecting their expertise. The importance of empowering older people is recognised in the Victorian Government's response to Elder Abuse. Their With Respect to Age strategy outlines that their response to preventing Elder Abuse is based on empowering older people. ​

Celebrate Ageing is a self-funded Program. Income is generated from educational activities such as workshops and conferences to fund initiatives that might not otherwise be funded (or are not currently recognised as funding priorities). 

Our achievements

  • Small Acts of Love: Hosted a National Symposium on Dementia and Love in Ballarat, attended by over 100 delegates. The Symposium was hosted in partnership with the Australian Association of Gerontology, The City of Ballarat, Ballarat North Neighbourhood Community House, Carers Respite Ballarat Health Service and was supported by Alzheimer’s Australia Vic. Symposium speakers were people living with dementia and their family and friends who addressed the importance of love in and their strategies for building connections. Currently producing two films of highlights from the Symposium and an edited book authored by 20 of the Symposium speakers.
  • Museum of Love: established a National arts based project promoting awareness of the importance of love in the lives of people with dementia. The Museum includes the following exhibits:
    • 100 stories: funded by the Helen MacPherson Smith Trust in partnership with the Wendouree Neighbourhood Centre, Ballarat North Community House and the City of Ballarat – and supported by Alzheimer’s Australia Vic to utilize arts based approaches to document the experiences of 100 people living in Ballarat with dementia.
    • Letters of Love and Dementia: developed a Campaign inviting community members to write letters to people with dementia – to build connections and highlight the human experience of living with dementia
    • The Kiss: established an online exhibition in partnership with Lisa White, The Social Photographer, of people with dementia engaged in a kiss. The exhibition challenges stereotypes of dementia
    • The Mirror: established an online exhibition in partnership with Lisa White, The Social Photographer, showing people with dementia enjoying their lives
    • Tea Making: producing an annual film documenting the experiences of a woman living with younger onset dementia to trace her journey.
  • Tea Cosy Project: developed an arts based project challenging ageism in the media and internalized ageism; and sending messages of love and respect to older people
  • Bigger Hearts: developed and coordinated a project creating momentum for a dementia friendly Ballarat in partnership with Alzheimer’s Australia Vic, City of Ballarat, Australian Unity, The Ballarat North Community House and Carers Respite Services at Ballarat Health Service. Produced a film challenging the stigma of dementia.
  • Founded The OPAL Institute, a national project promoting the sexual wellbeing and safety of older Australians, activities include:
    • OPAL Institute website: established a website as a resource with over 9000 unique visitors in the first year
    • Residential aged care policy: developed a policy on sexuality in residential aged care and provided it to service providers to adapt and localize
    • Sexual boundary policy: developed a policy on sexual boundaries for home services to utilise
    • Older Women’s Right to be Safe: part of a team led by the Council on the Ageing Victoria and the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University funded by the Victorian Women’s Trust ($42,000) to document and build upon aged care service providers strategies for preventing the sexual assault of older women. Project included the development of a Victoria based strategy for preventing the sexual assault of older women
    • Sex, Age and Me: researcher on an ARC Discovery grant ($395,000) led by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University in partnership with the University of Sheffield and the National Ageing Research Institute addressing the 58% increase in STIs amoungst older Australians.
    • Victoria Police Seniors Advisory Group: providing information to Victoria Police on Strategies to prevent the sexual assault of older women (2015 – current)
    • Sexual Rights of Older People: invited by Routledge to edit a book on the sexual rights of older people – expected publication 2017.
  • Founded Alice's Garage: a National program empowering older LGBTI Australians and promoting healthy LGBTI Ageing
    • Royal Commission into Quality and Safety in Aged Care: participated in round table with the Commission on issues for LGBTI Elders, working with several LGBTI Elders on submissions and developing a submission to the Commission
    • Rainbow Ageing: working with La Trobe University on an ARC funded project to build the first national evidence base on the health and well-being of older LGBTI Australians and utilise this information to stimulate and guide reforms to policy and service provision.
    • Kinfolk: working TGD Elders, family relationship services and aged care services to improve TGD Elders control over their gender identity and expression in the context of their own families and aged care services
    • Finding Strong: collaboration with an 84 year old lesbian to document her historical experiences of so called 'cures' and contemporary discrimination in guides for LGBTI culturally safe services. 
    • Never a Crime: art based workshops to heal the shame and stigma associated with LGBTIQphobic abuse and celebrate Pride
    • Abundance: a story pantry affirming TGD people as they age using text, photographs, film and preserves of fruit and vegetables
    • Hold Hands on a Tram: a project raising awareness of Lesbian Herstory and the resistance that got older lesbians through historical experiences of lesbophobia
    • Runway6: an LGBTI Elder's catwalk at the Embolden2018 Festival. The oldest model was 88 years old and the catwalk was an exploration of LGBTI Ageing and beauty 
    • Place: this ongoing project works to build a sense of Place for LGBTI Elders within LGBTI communities and the broader community. Activities include an annual Tea Tent for LGBTI Elders and Allies at Midsumma Carnival; an exhibition about LGBTI Elders and Place at the National Elder Abuse Awareness Conference in 2019 
    • 100 years of Love: a project documenting the lives and loves of three lesbian couples living in Ballarat who have collectively been together for over 100 years
    • Strong House: a webpage of messages from LGBTI Elders about getting through tough times, including the Marriage Equality postal vote
    • The REAL Big Hug: contracted to coordinate an event celebrating the achievements of allies who supported LGBTIQ Victorians through the Marriage Equality postal vote
    • Grateful Rainbow: a facebook group/web resource established on the one year anniversary of the Marriage Equality Postal Vote to build the mental wellbeing of LGBTIQ Australians. The page build over 800 members within a month and has been going for over a year
    • Pulse of My Heart: is an annual film documenting the journey of a lesbian couple living with dementia. The fourth film will be complete in September 2019
    • Pink Wolves: In May 2017, Alice's Garage worked in partnership with Adam Pulford to host a vigil in solidarity for gay and bisexual men in Chechnya. The vigil was attended by around 800 people
    • Tango Project: Developed and coordinating a project documenting older LGBTI Victorian’s experiences of abuse and discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or sex. Gender and Sexuality Commissioner Ro Allen is project patron.
    • New Moves: In partnership with All The Queens Men hosted an event for Senior’s Festival 2016 which bought Victoria’s Commissioners and older LGBTI Victorians together for a High Tea. Produced a video with messages of support from the Commissioners to older LGBTI Victorians.
    • The Baroness of Balaclava: In partnership with Switchboard Victoria hosted an event for Port Phillip Council Senior’s Festival 2017 celebrating the life of gay activist Richard James, including production of a film.
    • Tscreen: worked with BreastScreen Victoria on consultation with TGD community members on how to create TGD inclusive services - the organisation achieved a Rainbow Tick in 2019
    • Beautiful Women: Developed and coordinated a campaign for BreastScreen Victoria to encourage LGBTI women to undertake a mammogram. The Campaign included photographs of LGBTI women from 26 -76 years of age and was picked up by Vanity Fair, Huffington Post, Buzz Feed and Mashable.
  • National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy Review: part of a working group, working with the Department of Human Services reviewing the Strategy (2015 – 2017).
  • National Survey of older LGBTI Australians: Researcher working with Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University and The University of Washington on an ARC Linkages Grant to develop Australia’s first evidence base on the needs of older LGBTI Australians.

The Director

A summary of the professional achievements of Director Dr Catherine Barrett prior to founding the Celebrate Ageing Program include the following:
  • 2011 – 2015: Chief Investigator, Coordinator Sexual Health & Ageing Program Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society at La Trobe University: Established a program of research, education and resource development in four aspects of sexuality: sexual expression; sexual and gender diversity; sexual assault and sexually transmissible infections.
  • LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care: established Val’s Café, a national project promoting the health and wellbeing of older LGBTI Australians – with close to 600 members and averaging over 5000 website hits monthly. Key achievements included:
    • Extra degree of difficulty: Research and resource development on the needs of older LGBTI carers and the carers of older LGBTI people in collaboration with Carers Australia
    • Still Gay …: Research and resource development on the needs of LGBTI people with dementia in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Australia
    • Gender is just a part of who I am: Research and resource development on trans ageing and trans inclusive aged care services in partnership with TransGender Victoria and The Gender Centre NSW
    • As we age: Research and resource development on intersex ageing and aged care in partnership with OII
    • On the Same Page: Research and resource development to understand how the diverse aged care workforce provides LGBTI inclusive services
    • Then and Now: production a series of films on the experiences and needs of older lesbian, gay and trans Australians
    • Aged Care How2 Program: Developed a 12-month education program to coach aged care service providers through the practical steps involved in becoming LGBTI inclusive. Supported the dissemination of this Program to three other states
    • National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Conference: Coordinated Australia’s first National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Conference in 2014 and repeated the conference in 2015
    • Operation LOLA: Worked with Council on the Ageing, Victoria to develop a process for linking older LGBTI people with their peers
    • No Need to Straighten Up: in partnership with Curtin University, funded by beyondblue to document older LGBTI people’s experiences of discrimination and the impact on their mental wellbeing
    • Improving the Mental Health of older LGBTI Australians: In partnership with the National Ageing Research Institute and the RMIT School of Mental Health funded by beyondblue to develop an educational resource on older LGBTI people’s strategies for mental wellbeing in the face of discrimination
    • We live here too: funded by Matrix Guild of Victoria to develop a resource for aged care service providers on the needs of older lesbians
    • LGBTI Inclusive Aged Care Assessment: Grant from the Aged Care Branch at the Department of Health, Victoria to research the information needs of Aged Care Assessors, develop resources and deliver education on LGBTI inclusive services.
    • Cultural Safety: produced Its More Than Sex and Clothes, a paper outlining the perspectives of older LGBTI people and service providers on cultural safety in aged care.
    • HACC Pack: Grant from the Aged Care Branch at the Department of Health, Victoria to develop resources and deliver education to assist Home and Community Care (HACC) Services deliver LGBTI inclusive services.
    • My People My Story: Developed a narrative based resource for aged care service providers to better understand the experiences and needs of older LGBTI people.
    • Strengthening Diversity Planning: wrote a draft chapter for the Department of Human Services on the needs of LGBTI clients accessing home services.
    • Australasian Journal on Ageing LGBTI special edition: coeditor for this special edition and coauthored four papers
    • Memberships: Founding member of the Australian Association of Gerontology’s LGBTI Special Interest Group (2013 – 2017); National LGBTI Health Alliance’s Ageing Advisory Group (2012 – 2015); Co-Chair of a Federal Committee that developed the National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy that was launched in 2012; Member of a National Ageing Expert Advisory Group providing advice to the Federal Government on the Living Longer – Living Better aged care reforms (2012); Member of a National Quality Indicators Advisory Group developing quality indicators for older people accessing residential aged care (2013); Member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee’s Ageing and LGBTI Inclusive Practice Working Group providing advice to the Victorian Government; Member of the Ageing Consultative Committee providing advice to the Federal Minister for Ageing, Mental Health & Social Inclusion (2012)
  • Preventing sexual abuse of older women: Developed a number of projects to build an evidence base on the sexual abuse of older women and then implement strategies for primary prevention including:
  • Sexual expression: Developed a number of projects to support service providers to understand the sexuality of older clients and respond in positive ways to sexual expression. Projects included:
    • Sexuality After Stroke/How2 implement Guideline 8.5 (sexuality after stroke): a two-year collaboration with the Victorian Stroke Network to assist stroke clinicians to provide information on sexuality to stroke patients. Activities included: developing a survey to measure staff knowledge and attitudes; developing an organizational audit tool to measure organizational supports; documenting a process for patient interviews; developing an interdisciplinary guide to providing information on sexuality after stroke
    • Happy birthday: collaboration with a sociology intern from Swinburne University to analyze social constructions of older people’s sexuality in humorous birthday cards as a resource to assist service providers challenge their own ageism.
    • Well for Life (at home): Wrote a section on sexuality and the emotional wellbeing of older people living at home, for Department of Health Victoria. (2011)
    • Well for Life (in care): Wrote a section on sexuality and the emotional wellbeing of older people living in residential aged care, for Department of Health Victoria. (2011)
  • Sexually transmissible infections
    • Faculty grant: part of a team receiving a successful grant ($5000) to develop an ARC grant application to address increased rates of STIs amoungst older people
    • The SAM project: part of a team of researchers led by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University working in partnership with the National Ageing Research Institute and the University of Sheffield that received ARC Discovery Funding to address the 58% increase in STIs amoungst older people and develop education and resources for prevention.
  • Earlier projects – Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University
    • Living safer sexual lives: respectful relationships for people with intellectual disability: Evaluated a program funded by FaCSIA ($399,575) to develop and implement a peer led primary prevention of violence program for people with intellectual disabilities. Utilised an Empowerment Evaluation approach that incorporated creative arts methods.
    • White Ribbon Foundation workshops for school principals: assisted in the evaluation of workshops to support school principals addressing the primary prevention of violence against women in Australia. Project funded by White Ribbon Foundation
    • Well Proud Women: recipient of a grant from the Australian Lesbian Medical Association to work with Breast Screen Victoria to identify the needs of lesbian, bisexual and trans women accessing breast screening services and to promote inclusive services.
    • How2 create a GLBTI inclusive rural service: developed a rural program in partnership with the Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health (CERSH) at The University of Melbourne to coach rural health and human service organisations to develop GLBTI inclusive services.
    • Beyond a Rainbow Sticker, How2 create a GLBTI inclusive service: repeated the program for service providers on becoming LGBTI inclusive
    • Beyond a Rainbow Sticker: Developed a program for Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria in 2011 to coach organisations through the process of developing GLBTI inclusive practice. The Program includes working with organisational champions to audit practices, implement and evaluate improvements over a 12-month period. The program is currently in its 7th year and is being implemented in four states.
    • Everyday Angels: celebrating the achievements of staff working in aged care. Chief Investigator on an appreciative inquiry the achievements of the aged care workforce in Victoria. Project funded by the Helen Mac Pherson Smith Trust and was a partnership with the Melbourne Institute for Creative and Experiential Arts Therapy, The National Ageing Research Institute and The University of Ballarat.
    • Rainbow Tick: Coordinator of a project undertaken by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and the Quality Improvement Council (QICSA) and funded by the Department of Health Victoria to develop national standards for LGBTI inclusive practice that could enable health and human services to be accredited.
    • Well Proud: Coordinated a project conducted by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and funded by the Department of Health, Victoria that resulted in the development of guidelines for LGBTI inclusive health and human services in Victoria.
    • Secondary Students and Sexual Health 2013 survey: School’s Liaison Officer for a national survey secondary school student’s sexual health, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing ($573,000)
  • Earlier work
    • Permission to speak (2009): Researcher for Matrix Guild of Victoria and Vintage Men to document aged care service provider’s perspectives on caring for older LGBTI people. Project funded by Reichstein Foundation.
    • My People (2008): Researcher for Matrix Guild of Victoria and Vintage Men on a qualitative project funded by Reichstein Foundation to explore older LGBTI people’s experiences of aged care.
    • PhD Candidate, The University of Melbourne. Developed, implemented and evaluated a systemic approach to emancipatory practice development (action research) in an acute care setting
    • Nurse Unit Manager: Melbourne Extended Care and Rehabilitation Service: Managed a complex care, residential unit with 21 residents and 45 staff. Achievement included:
      • Awarded two commendable ratings from the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency for the care provided in the Unit
      • Co-founded a Sexual Health Policy Committee and co-developed Australia’s first sexual health policy for aged care
      • Four-year period as a Consultant Nurse for the National Ageing Research Institute: facilitating education in aged care and assisting in the design, implementation and evaluation of research, developing and coordinating education programs for aged care
      • Researcher on an action research project exploring staff knowledge and attitudes to sexuality and ageing and implementing staff education. Funded by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.