Research and findings

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. 

What can you live with (or without)? 2023

A short survey primarily to ask COTA NT members and stakeholders whether they could see themselves living in a purpose-built, multi-storey building consisting of mixture of 2 and 3 bedroom independent living units (ILU) in central Darwin WITHOUT parking facilities. Participants were also asked how important the following elements of seniors’ housing design were to them. 

Community space (e.g. garden, library, recreation room, toilets on the ground floor), Social support (opportunities to meet and befriend fellow residents), Engagement (choice to participate in events and group activities), Security (safe and secure access to the building and apartments), Ageing in place (apartment and building spaces that enables and supports ageing at home with assistance and care as required), Nourishment (on-site restaurant offering meal services), Health and wellbeing (on-site access to wellness and allied health services), On-site concierge services (for on-site bus services, uber/taxi sharing, maintenance, information), Sustainable and environmentally responsible design (e.g. energy and water consumption, waste generation and renewable energy), Design for Territory climate (e.g. thermal comfort, humidity, air-movement, shading, daylight, solar access), Universal design principles (e.g. enjoyable spaces for all, rest points in corridors, lift lobbies, inclusive signage), Design for physical ageing (slip resistant flooring, level flooring, tonal contrast around doors, lighting ambiance, auditory comfort, environmental comfort), Design for dementia (easily navigable spaces, safe environments, wayfinding support, signage).

Survey open here| Survey closes: Tuesday 24 October 2023

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 2022-2023

• 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 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. 

COTA NT May Federal Budget Members Survey 2023

We would like to understand if COTA NT Members feel the May Federal Budget will make a difference in their lives. If you are 50+, we invite you to take a couple of minutes of your time to tell us how the measures announced will impact your quality of life.

This survey has been emailed to COTA NT Members (10 May). 

Do you support changing the Constitution to enshrine an Indigenous voice to parliament?

In 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum on whether to update the Constitution to include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament. The Voice will be an independent, representative advisory body for First Nations people. It will provide a permanent means to advise the Australian Parliament and Government on the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on matters that affect them.

COTA NT  released a survey (6 February 2023) to its Members and NT stakeholders to ask whether they supported the change. View and complete survey here (this link will take you to a Google form in a new window).

Further information

• Indigenous-voice-co-design-process Final Report to the Australian Government July -2021
• Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition relating to -Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Ms Libby Gott et al – 11 Jun 2018

COTA NT Is the Territory Age-Friendly? Survey 2022

In the run up to Ageism Awareness Day on the 7 October 2022, COTA released a survey to find out if, or how, older Territorians have been affected by ageism. Our survey into ageism in the Territory aimed to answer the question, “Is the Territory of 2022 a place where every person is valued, connected and respected regardless of their age and health?”

View the Is the Territory Age Friendly Survey Findings 2022

COTA NT Cost of Living Survey 2022

• We revisit our Cost of Living Survey, first completed in 2020 in order to compare the situation two years on. 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.
  • View the Cost of Living 2022 Report.

COTA NT Stakeholder Survey 2021

First released on NT Seniors Voice, COTA NT’s Community Engagement Hub 21 June. Survey closes 31 August 2021. The survey is now closed and the Strategic Plan is launching soon.
COTA NT is the peak body representing the rights, interests and futures of senior Territorians. Since 1969, COTA NT has been working towards making positive social change and lobbies government, media and other parties influencing decision-making on topics relevant to seniors including ageism, communications, elder abuse, health, housing, retirement, cost of living, access to aged care, aged care provision and much more.

View the final COTA NT Strategic Plan 2022 – 2026

Your Volunteering Survey May 2021

• Released on NT Seniors Voice, COTA NT’s Community Engagement Hub Survey Opened 17 May. Survey closed 17 June 2021.
  COTA NT marks National Volunteers Week by showing its appreciation for volunteers every year. Every hour volunteered can be given a dollar amount. Last year, COTA NT volunteers’ contribution could be valued at over $40,000. This survey asked volunteers aged 50+ to tell us about their volunteering hours, so we could sing out about the contribution that senior Volunteers make to the Northern Territory (view findings).
• 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 Have Your Say – COVID-19 – Members Survey April 2020

RThe 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 Stakeholders Poll on VAD 2020

• 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 Members Survey on VAD Laws 2020

• 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.

StepUp Dementia Research 2020

• First published January 2020: Ongoing survey opportunities
  The goal of StepUp for Dementia Research is to make it possible for everyone who wants to be involved in dementia research to get the chance to do so and to help researchers find the people they need. You may asked to be involved in research around topics such as: nutrition, lifestyle, new technology, psychological therapy, physical therapy, drug trial, citizen science, survey/interview, brain imaging, genetic test, cognitive test, social engagement, procedure/treatment. Visit their website to sign up.

COTA NT Cost of Living Survey 2020

• 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 Seniors Survey 2019

• 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 Seniors Survey Infographic & Report 2018

• 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.”

Read the full paper here (Population Ageing in Northern Australia: Seniors’ Voices on Ageing in Place)