Heer Kaur, an Indian migrant in Beveridge, north of Melbourne, chose to have just one child after postponing parenthood to build a career and secure permanent residency. She says the lack of family support pushed up childcare costs and left her working longer hours. Treasury's Intergenerational Report puts Australia's fertility rate at a historic low of 1.48 births per woman, and it names delayed childbearing as a key driver. Demographers say migration will play a growing role in sustaining population growth and the workforce, though migrants often adopt local fertility patterns.
Ageing bodies need extra nutrients for bones, brain and energy, yet can absorb them less well. A lifestyle guide suggests eating fruit and vegetables of at least three colours at each meal, and adding protein to maintain muscle. It recommends calcium and vitamin D from dairy, salmon, sardines and leafy greens, along with regular sunshine. Staying hydrated and eating more fibre are also advised, as thirst signals weaken with age. The piece is written by Lifestyle Editor Demeter Stamell.
Friends and community members recently gathered at the Cairnlea Community Hub to celebrate the 90th birthday of Joe Casa. Mr Casa migrated from Malta in 1954 and has spent most of his life in Sunshine. He joined a long-running walking group after his wife's death and regularly attends the Albanvale Men's Shed. He has also mentored young drivers in the L2P Driver Program and has been a Heart Foundation member for 18 years.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Childless women can feel grief return at key life moments, according to childlessness grief counsellor Sarah Roberts. South Australian Allison Macaulay-Dear, 62, said she felt pain when her best friend became a grandmother. Roberts said the grief can follow the timeline of the child never born, with pain points during menopause, retirement and ageing. She said finding meaning outside parenting, such as through community groups, can help people cope.
Older people in Geelong can explore local services, make social connections and learn about dementia at a free expo next week. The Changing Mind & Positive Ageing Expo will bring together almost 40 local organisations and community groups as part of Victorian Seniors Month. Held at the Geelong Bowls Club on Friday 23 October from 10.30am to 2.30pm, it will cover healthy ageing, legal rights, volunteering and support services. Four speakers will present on ageing, dementia, wellbeing and social connection. Tickets are available through Trybooking.
A Ageing Well in Regional Communities Roundtable will be held at the University of Canberra on 25 November. Organised by Regional Development Australia Southern NSW & ACT, it will look beyond aged care to housing, health, workforce, infrastructure, transport and community. CEO Olivia West said ageing well depends on the whole community, not only the aged care system. A 2026 survey of 217 respondents found 56 per cent cited housing affordability and availability as a key pressure. The outcomes will inform a regional action plan.
Sydney woman Gail Rice, 72, has written about hiring a male escort for her 70th birthday after five years without sex. She paid $1850 for a three-hour session with a man she had contacted online. Rice said the experience left her dissatisfied, and she asked for a refund, which the escort agreed to pay. She later wrote about the encounter for a writing workshop, and the Sydney Morning Herald published her story. Rice said she then booked a second escort and found the experience far more satisfying.
Older people in Ballina and the Northern Rivers are invited to a free seniors forum on Thursday, 22 October, hosted by National Seniors Australia at the Riverside Function Centre. The morning forum runs from 9am to 11:30am and covers advocacy, savings tips and government services. A regional consultation follows from 11:30am to 1pm, limited to 20 people, focusing on later-life housing in regional communities. Karen Furnivall says cost-of-living pressures and housing insecurity are weighing on older residents. Everyone who registers receives a free goodie bag.
David Hammond, 90, has built a busy life in Griffith, including a recent turn to intensive gym work. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at 89 and began training with personal trainer Lena Sergi at LiveFit 24/7 Griffith Gym. He now trains twice a week, focusing on strength, mobility and balance. A former chief executive of Riverina Wines and Miranda Wines, Mr Hammond says he has not drunk alcohol for eight years. He also says he met his partner of 10 years through an online dating app.
Muscle and strength decline from around middle age unless people take action, a condition known as sarcopenia. Muscles help with everyday tasks such as climbing stairs, carrying shopping and keeping balance. They also help maintain bone density, which becomes more important as bone strength naturally falls with age. Resistance and weight-bearing exercise, along with adequate protein, calcium and vitamin D, can help maintain both muscle and bone health at any age.
Researchers from Curtin University have found that losing muscle mass as people age increases their risk of developing dementia by 42 per cent. The study also revealed that obesity before age 65 raises dementia risk by 9 per cent, but the risk decreases for those over 65. Lead researcher Dr Uraiporn Booranasuksakul said maintaining muscle strength is important as people age. Professor Mario Siervo noted the relationship between body weight, ageing and dementia is complex.
The world's oldest-known land animal, a 194-year-old Aldabra giant tortoise named Jonathan, may owe his longevity to genetic traits and youthful cellular function. Scientists sequenced his genome and epigenome, finding unique variants linked to longevity, tumour suppression, and DNA repair. Jonathan lives on St Helena, with his age supported by extensive documentation. The study, published in Science Advances, suggests shared ageing mechanisms across species.
A dementia awareness event for Melbourne's Greek community will be held on 23 October. The Hellenic Women’s Federation of Victoria and Dementia Australia will host the free event at Darebin North West Uniting Church. It will cover memory changes, strategies to improve memory, and when to seek help. The presentation will be in English and Greek, with afternoon tea provided afterwards.
Health experts, government officials, and academics have gathered in Parramatta for the 2026 NSW Preventive Health Summit. The two-day event aims to strengthen preventive health approaches as the state's ageing population and chronic disease rates rise. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the summit would challenge assumptions and identify practical actions to boost health outcomes and empower healthcare professionals. The NSW Government will also release a report on the state's health, with discussions focusing on preventing chronic disease and supporting healthy ageing.
