Representing You

Representing You

As part of its role in achieving change, COTA Australia represents the interests of older people to a wide range of government and community organisations including:

Australian Association of Gerontology
Australian Communications & Consumer Actions Network
Australian Council of Social Services
Australians for Affordable Housing
Consumer Health Forum
Livable Housing Australia
National Aged Care Alliance
Older Persons Affordable Housing Alliance

COTA is a member of the International Federation on AgeingHelp Age International and is a founding member of Global Alliance of the rights of Older People Australia. In October 2014 we were also part of a successful bid to bring an International Longevity Centre to Australia.

COTA Australia has well established connections with a number of researchers and research centres including Australian National UniversityNational Ageing Research InstituteMonash University.

COTA represents consumers on committees of other organisations including:

Australian Bankers Association
Insurance Council of Australia Advisory Group
National Return and Disposal of Unwanted Medicines
Telstra Consumer Consultative Council
Telstra Low Income Measures Advisory Council
Telstra Disability Forum

Consumer interests are represented by COTA on government committees including:

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Consumer Consultative Committee
Australian Energy Regulator Consultative Group
Aged Care Financing Authority
Aged Care Sector Committee (Minister for Ageing)
Aged Care Workforce Committee
Australian Securities and Investment Commission Consumer Advisory Panel
Australian Government Non Government Organisations Forum on Human Rights
Medicare Australia Consumer Consultative group

International Activities

  • COTA is a member of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) and Help Age International (HAI)
  • COTA is an active participant in discussions around the development of a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Older Persons
  • In February 2014 COTA Australia became a founding member of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People Australia (GAROPA). The main purpose of the Alliance is to strengthen the rights of older people through the development of a United Nations Convention on the rights of older persons (CROP).
  • In October 2014 we were part of a consortium of 11 organisation that was successful in bringing an International Longevity Centre to Australia (ILC-A). The aim of the ILC-A is to foster long-term, independent policy analysis, research, advocacy and knowledge translation activities to support communities as the population lives longer. The ILC-A will concentrate its efforts on the social effects of longevity. Visit the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance website to find out what’s happening in other countries.
  • The United Nations (UN) established an open ended working group on the rights of older people.  The working group considers the existing human rights framework for older people, gaps and the feasibility of further instruments and measures.