Findings and reports
The findings, results and reports of surveys and research conducted by COTA NT and its partner organisations are available below. COTA NT aims to undertakes regular surveys of its members and Territory seniors as part of its advocacy on their behalf.
For more information on our advocacy and surveys, please contact the organisation’s CEO.
my Territory Connections – What makes a good life in the Territory? 2023
THE CDU Survey, my Territory Connections collected data from people living in the Territory during November 2021 and June 2022 regarding their general wellbeing, connections to family, friends, communities and attachments to where they live. Over 3000 people aged over 18 participated. Questions were asked around:
- Are you doing okay?
- What groups do you feel you belong to?
- Do you feel safe in your home and neighbourhood?
- Do you think your community has a say on things that matter to it?
The findings from the first survey have been released in the NT Social Capital Index on the My Territory Connections CDU website. Reports include findings for Alice Springs & the Central Region, Results for Darwin, Katherine & Big Rivers Region, Municipality of Litchfield and City of Palmerston.
Is the Territory Age-Friendly? Survey 2022 Report
- Is the Territory Age Friendly Survey Findings 2022– released January 2023.
- The primary purposes of this survey were to raise awareness of ageism and to promote thought and discussion about ageing, provide information about ageism research and identifying whether seniors Territorians felt the Territory was ‘age-friendly’.
- 73 responses to the survey were received. 427 unique visitors viewed the project on the Seniors Voice engagement hub, 218 unique visitors viewed the published documentation and 481 documents were viewed/downloaded.
- Topics in this survey included: experience of ageism, what, where and how has ageism been experienced, thoughts on age and getting older, media portrayal of ageing, recommendations for change.
Assistive Technology for All (COTA Vic)
- 2022 Australian AT Equity Studies Final Report – released November 2022.
- The Australian Assistive Technology Equity Studies: Improving access to assistive technology for people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS.
- This document presents two separate, but interrelated studies that were completed in 2022. Together, they provide a rich evidence-base to support the call for a national assistive technology and home modifications program to support people with disability who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). National advocacy around this issue is being coordinated through the Assistive Technology for All (ATFA) campaign – an initiative of Council on the Ageing Victoria. This campaign is now supported by more than 60 organisations spanning the health, ageing and disability sectors.
COTA NT Cost of Living Survey 2022 Report
- Cost of Living 2022 Report – released November 2022.
- The primary purpose of this survey was to attain responses from seniors from Darwin and regional areas such as Katherine and Alice Springs around the topic of cost of living and to compare results with the same survey issued in 2020
- 98 Responses to: COTA-NT-2022-Survey_Cost-of-Living
- Topics in this survey included: residency in the Northern Territory, demographics, financial security, employment status, employment sector, annual income and highest expense impacting cost of living.
Darwin Expo Feedback Survey Findings 2022
- Darwin Seniors Expo 22 Surveys Findings– released September 2022
- The primary purpose of this survey was to find out what the feedback was about COTA NT Darwin Seniors Expo held in July 2022.
- 76 responses were received.
- 78% of respondents were aged between 61 and 80 years.
- 65% of respondents were satisfied with Expo overall.
Your Volunteering Survey May 2021
- Your Volunteering Report – released July 2021.
- The primary purpose of this survey was to find out how seniors were volunteering in the Territory to mark National Volunteers Week (17-23 May 2021), so we could recognise and celebrate the contribution they make to the Northern Territory.
- Released on NT Seniors Voice, COTA NT’s Community Engagement Hub Survey and released to stakeholders by printed news sheet (NT Seniors Voice), email and social media pages.
- This survey had 26 respondents aged between 45 and 79 years old, 65% were aged between 65 and 79, over 80% have lived in the Territory for more than 15 years, over 53% are fully retired, 6 work in the non-for-profit sector, 3 were self-employed, 3 in the private sector and 1 in Government.
- Key Findings:
- Each volunteer who participated in our survey contributes a minimum average of 4.7 hours a week and up to 9 hours maximum on average per week.
- This has a minimum monetary value of $244.40 per week, $12 708 per year per volunteer; and a maximum of $468 per week, $24 336 per year per volunteer
- 73% of volunteers surveyed believe that organisations with volunteer programs need more support.
COTA NT 2020 Members Survey – Have Your Say – COVID-19
- The primary purpose of this survey was to attain responses from our Members to understand the impact the coronavirus crisis had on our membership and to determine what our role and what support we could offer.
- Released to COTA members on 1 April 2020 via email.
- 25 Responses from male and female Members aged 50 to 79 on topics in this survey included concern about coronavirus, level of agreement with measures taken by Territory and federal government, sources of information, precautions being taken, COTA NT’s role.
- Snap shot: Strongly agreed with measures being taken (average 4.5 rating out of 5 where 5 was strongly agree). Only 1 respondent needed assistance (to get flu shot).
COTA NT 2020 Stakeholders Poll
- Released to stakeholders (members of the public) on 10 January via social media.
- 126 Responses to question: Assisted dying or euthanasia is the practice whereby a person suffering from a terminal illness or incurable condition have the right to request a lethal drug from a doctor to end their lives. Do you support or oppose this for the Northern Territory?
- 95% answered: Yes. I support assisted dying.
- 5% answered: No. I do not support assisted dying.
COTA NT 2020 Members Survey on VAD Laws
- Released to Members on 6 January 2020 via email.
- Response to question: Assisted dying or euthanasia is the practice whereby a person suffering from a terminal illness or incurable condition have the right to request a lethal drug from a doctor to end their lives. Do you support or oppose this for the Northern Territory?
- 91% answered: Yes. I support assisted dying.
- 6.1% answered: No. I do not support assisted dying.
- 2% answered: Not sure.
- COTA NT 2020 Cost of Living Survey Report – released 7 September 2020
- The primary purpose of this survey was to attain responses from seniors from Darwin and regional areas such as Katherine and Alice Springs around the topic of cost of living.
- 157 Responses to: COTA NT 2020 Survey Cost of Living
- Topics in this survey included: residency in the Northern Territory, demographics, financial security, employment status, employment sector, annual income and highest expense impacting cost of living.
COTA NT 2019 Seniors Survey Report
- COTA NT 2019 Survey Report – released 5 August 2020
- The primary purpose of this survey was to attain responses from seniors attending Seniors Expo 2019 from Darwin, Palmerston and from regional areas of Katherine and Alice Springs.
- 95 Responses to: COTA NT 2019 Survey
- Topics in this survey included crime and security, financial security, quality of life and concerns.
COTA NT 2018 Seniors Survey Infographic & Report
- COTA NT 2018 Seniors Survey Snapshot – released 26 November 2018
- In this survey of 900 Territorians aged 50 and over, 78% in support legislation for assisted dying.
- We’re Still Here! Territory seniors population trends and futures – outcomes of the 2018 Seniors Survey – Authored by Andrew Taylor, Sigurd Dyrting, Fiona Shalley Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia
- This survey was an independent conducted by COTA NT to compliment the national survey released by COTA Australia, “State of the Older Nation.” Download this report: COTA State of the Older Nation Report 2018 (Prepared by Newgate Research – click to read)
- In this survey of 2,562 Australians aged 50 and over, 84% in support legislation for assisted dying
- Topics in both surveys included: quality of life, employment, health, financial security and cost of living, vulnerability, future sentiment and concerns, feelings of value, age discrimination, home and aged care, housing, later life planning, consumer complaints and rights and getting around.
Population Ageing in Northern Australia: Seniors’ Voices on Ageing in Place
Authored: Andrew Taylor & Hannah Payer, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Ellengowan Drive, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia
[extract “The very old population (those 85 years and over) is projected to grow from just under 2000 residents in 2011 to just under 14,000 residents in 2041 (or 700 % growth). Indicative of the scale of ageing in the contexts of a small population, net projected growth in the very old cohort is greater than the size of the NT’s third largest town of Katherine.”
COTA NT 2014 – 2015 Seniors Survey Report
