The story we tell about ageing matters.
When ageing is framed as burden, people withdraw.
When it's framed as decline, confidence drops.
When it's framed as cost, voices disappear.
But when ageing is framed as adaptation, contribution, and belonging — people stay engaged.
And wellbeing improves — not just for older people, but for the whole community.
I'm Jen Barter — my background spans nursing, public health, community wellbeing and healthy ageing, with experience across local government, aged care and community services.
Live Well Later is my practice in healthy ageing and community wellbeing. My work takes an upstream, life-course approach to ageing, supporting dignity, participation and connection well before care is needed. I work with councils, community organisations, health services and other partners committed to helping people age well, translating evidence, lived experience and local insight into practical action that strengthens participation, belonging and wellbeing in everyday community life.
Throughout my career in aged care, community wellbeing and local government, I've noticed a clear pattern: conversations about dignity, choice and identity often start too late — usually when someone is already in crisis or needs care.
When we delay these conversations, people can begin to see ageing as a process of decline rather than adaptation, contribution and continued participation. Over time, confidence shrinks, opportunities narrow and people start to pull back from community life.
That's why Live Well Later focuses upstream. Before care needs arise. Before crisis. Healthy ageing is built in everyday community life — through connection, participation, belonging and the opportunities people have to remain visible, valued and involved.
Designing physical and social environments that make it easier to stay connected and involved.
Ensuring people feel welcomed, valued and respected in community life.
Supporting confidence, mental wellbeing and the ability to adapt through change.
Enabling involvement in social, cultural and civic life — including meaningful roles.
Local government and community wellbeing teams
Libraries, neighbourhood centres and community hubs
Community organisations and not-for-profit services
Healthy ageing, wellbeing and inclusion initiatives
Community-facing teams seeking to build age-inclusive practice
Live Well Later's work empowers organisations to build vibrant, age-inclusive communities. We focus on practical, evidence-informed strategies that deliver tangible benefits, strengthening foundational elements for healthy ageing and collective wellbeing.
Embedding inclusion and participation into policies and programs, ensuring every older person feels valued.
Fostering environments that reduce isolation and encourage meaningful social engagement for all ages.
Shifting focus from crisis management to preventative, community-based approaches that build resilience.
Developing robust, long-term initiatives that genuinely meet the evolving needs of older adults and their communities.
Moving past headcounts to build repeatable connection and genuine relationships.
Creating opportunities for older people to be seen, heard and valued as active contributors.
Building capability and confidence to welcome and include older people in everyday community life.
Translating strategy and intent into concrete actions teams can take tomorrow.
Live Well Later has three ways to work with you, and they can be combined to suit your needs.
Community-facing talks, workshops and short series for older people that strengthen connection, participation and belonging — with practical takeaways people can use straight away.
Practical sessions for staff, volunteers and community-facing teams to build age-inclusive practice (including challenging ageism) and strengthen confidence to design activities that increase visibility, contribution and meaningful contact.
Best for libraries, community centres, neighbourhood teams, youth/community development teams, customer-facing teams and local partners.
Tangible, community-facing activations that bring the healthy ageing lens to life in a local setting — partnership-friendly and designed for visibility and contribution (not token 'engagement').
Signature activation: Teachable Moments (details shared on request)
A structured, engaging session that introduces a practical healthy ageing lens and shows what it looks like in everyday community life.
Example: Changing the Story of Ageing
A participatory session that builds shared language, surfaces local insight and produces clear next steps tailored to your setting.
Example themes: purpose and meaningful roles; navigating life transitions with confidence
A simple multi-session series that builds momentum over time (learn → try → reflect → embed).
Each engagement is tailored to your community, setting and goals.
Program formats and activation designs are shared during discovery.
Practical sessions that help teams recognise how ageism shows up in language, assumptions and everyday systems — and translate that into inclusive practice.
Work that supports contribution and belonging — helping people stay connected through meaningful roles, not just 'activities'.
Sessions that build confidence through change (retirement, health shifts, caregiving, loss, relocation) with practical strategies for connection, routines and participation.
Used where it strengthens meaningful contact, contribution and visibility — always as genuine two-way exchange (not "young teaching old").
Activations can be designed to suit your place and partners, including:
(youth + older adults)
(across neighbourhoods, hubs or towns)
(including multilingual communities)
Formats and designs are shared during discovery.
Live Well Later acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters where this work takes place and pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
© Live Well Later
Live Well Later