Cost of Living, Health and Safety: What 2,500 Older Queenslanders Told Us
At Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland, we have spent over 60 years working alongside older people, advocating for their rights, needs, and futures. Our latest What Matters Most: Pulse Survey 2025 highlights we should not ignore the views of older Queenslanders. They are not whispering their concerns — older people are speaking loud and clear in this survey, calling for action on the issues that matter most.
The Growing Voice of Older Queenslanders
Queensland’s population is ageing at an unprecedented rate. Within just a few decades, nearly one in four Queenslanders will be aged 65 or older. Today’s older Queenslanders bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and diverse perspectives that enrich our communities. As their numbers grow, so too does the importance of ensuring their voices are actively included in policy-making, planning, and community development — not only to meet their needs, but to strengthen the future of Queensland as a whole.
The Pulse Survey 2025—with over 2,500 participants—gives us a clear, timely picture of the key priorities older Queenslanders want government, businesses, and our local communities to address.
Older people are deeply concerned about three areas that impact their wellbeing: cost of living, personal health, and safety.
- Cost of living pressures are biting hard. Essentials like food, energy, housing, and healthcare are increasingly unaffordable, especially for those on fixed incomes.
- Health — particularly for those 75+ — is the top concern, highlighting the need for stronger community health services, improved access to care, and greater investment in preventive programs.
- Safety and security matter too, not just in private homes, but in public spaces where older people want to feel confident and protected.
We know that there is a lot of diversity is the group we call ‘older people’. So, we have created some profiles in the report to give a better sense of individual perspectives: like Cheryl in coastal Queensland, worried about rising rents and her ability to stay healthy; or Desmond in regional Queensland, who’s been hit hard by the cost of food and fuel. People experience ageing differently — shaped by geography, finances, family, and health.
Council on the Ageing Queensland: Turning Voices into Action
An age-friendly Queensland is a better Queensland for everyone. Investing in safe public transport, affordable housing, accessible healthcare, and vibrant community spaces not only supports older people — it builds stronger, healthier, and more inclusive communities where people of all ages can thrive.
We’re using this information to strengthen our advocacy on the issues that matter most — and we’re not doing it alone.
With our partners and supporters, we’re continuing to raise the older persons voice in our communities.
If you are one of our supporters, we thank you.
Your stories, your insights, and your lived experiences fuel our advocacy every day. We encourage you to stay engaged, raise your voice, and help us amplify the needs and aspirations of older people across Queensland.
Visit www.cotaqld.org.au to find out how you can get involved. Together, we can build a future where every older Queenslander has a voice, respect, and the support they deserve.
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