Positive ageing

The City of Fremantle’s Strategic Community Plan 2024-2034 aims for Fremantle to be an environment where it is easy for people to live safe, happy and healthy lives. It seeks to celebrate and support diversity and improve community inclusiveness and participation for all.

The purpose of an Age-Friendly Plan is to prioritise positive ageing opportunities for the Fremantle community and promote Fremantle as a great place for older people to visit.

The City’s journey to becoming an Age-Friendly City started in 2010 and in 2016 the City of Fremantle was accepted as a member to the World Health Organisation Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities, an initiative that works to stimulate and enable cities and communities around the world to become increasingly age-friendly by:

Connecting cities and communities worldwide to facilitate the exchange of information, knowledge and experience; and
Supporting cities and communities to find appropriate innovative and evidence-based solutions.

In 2018 the City of Fremantle was recognised for its efforts by taking out the Age-Friendly Local Government category at the West Australian Seniors Awards in November 2018 and being a finalist in both 2023 and 2024. In 2024 Sing Swing and Mingle ~ an intergenerational concert project won the Local Government – Partnership & Collaboration award.

Age Friendly City Plan 2019-2024

The City of Fremantle Age Friendly City Plan 2019–24 has been developed and endorsed by council to guide the City’s direction over five years.

The aims for the Plan were to increase social participation and volunteering, provide intergenerational and cross-cultural activities, improve communications on relevant services and opportunities.

Visit Age friendly Plan 2019 to 2024
Spotlight on Positive Ageing: Age Friendly Freo 2019-2024 captures some of the most important outcomes generated by this plan.

WA State Seniors Strategy 2022-2023 & Action Plan

In 2023 the State government announced a 10-year Strategy, accompanied by the first five-year Action Plan that sets out a range of actions including a comprehensive campaign to tackle ageism in WA.

Key documents

The City of Fremantle’s Age Friendly Plan 2025-30:

In June 2025 a community engagement process was rolled out to seek input from as many older people as possible who have a connection to Fremantle, including those who live, visit, socialise or learn here. Comments and input, from this engagement will help us plan for an age-friendly future—shaping programs, services, and activities that support ageing well. Those who shared their experiences, needs, and concerns, will assist us to identify key trends and address the issues that matter most to our older community.

During the community engagement process, the City of Fremantle heard from older residents about various issues affecting their wellbeing. While some matters fall under the responsibility of the Australian and Western Australian governments, the City recognises the importance of collaborating across all levels of government to advocate for the needs and priorities of older people in our community.

Following the WA local government elections on Saturday, 18 October 2025, the City will release the proposed Age Friendly Plan 2025–2030 for public comment. This process will ensure that both returning and newly elected Councillors are informed and able to consider and support initiatives that strengthen Fremantle’s status as an age-friendly community.

Visit the links below for more information and progress updates: