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What we do

Advocacy

COTA NT’s advocacy for senior Territorians aims to effect positive social change. It helps ensure that seniors’ voices are heard on issues important to them.

COTA NT aims to defend and safeguard seniors’ rights and ensure their views are genuinely considered, especially when decisions are being made about their lives. COTA NT has over 50 years of history in advocating for senior Territorians and ensuring their voice has a say in the development of public policy and legislation. COTA NT speaks out to government, media and stakeholders in the Northern Territory on a wide range of issues that affect senior Territorians. Read more about our work here.

Programs

Aged Care Navigators (ACN)

COTA NT’s Aged Care Navigators (ACN) program provides information and support for seniors, their families and friends about government-provided aged care services and access to them in Darwin, Rural Darwin and Alice Springs regions. This program is open for sponsorship. COTA NT’s Aged Care Navigators are delivering the Seniors’ Advocate: Advance Personal Planning Project (Read more).

Activities and events

Regular activities

COTA NT Members and seniors in the community are welcome to attend activities. Participants may be asked for a small donation to cover instructors’ fee (COTA NT Members typically receive a small discount on fees). COTA NT pays all other associated expenses (staffing, venue, power, cleaning etc.). See the COTA NT events calendar for dates, times and costs.

Digital literacy COTA NT is working with NBN to help lift seniors digital capability. (View details here)

Fit for Life Classes in this program include Fit for Life classes (Pilates & Seated Aerobics – in person and by Zoom, Tai Chi, Strong and Functional).

Multicultural social support program (MSSP) This program enables seniors from diverse multicultural backgrounds to stay connected with their communities, engage socially with speakers of their first language and feel valued for their past and ongoing contribution to community life. MSSP includes: Italian, Portugese and Timorese seniors’ group outings led by volunteers and supported by COTA volunteer drivers, multicultural luncheons and activities. (Read more about MSSP).

Social groups Led by COTA NT volunteers, these group activities include Musical Jam and Our Common Threads Sewing Group. These programs are open for sponsorship.

Workshops Workshops are held in conjuction with our Club and Associates and NT stakeholders to deliver relevant information for decision-making in regard to: health, fitness, nutrition, finance, cyber security, safety, retirement planning, advance personal plans (making living wills), first aid and more.

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Membership

We provide membership services to organisational (i.e. financial) Members of COTA NT. Members receive benefits such as access to our Home Maintenance Service, discounted health and fitness classes, Members Only website detailing discounts, special offers, members only events and more. (Read about COTA NT membership program).

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Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC)

The Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) initiative was developed in 1997. The PICAC project was developed to improve the capacity of aged care services to respond to the differing needs of older people in residential aged care facilities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. PICAC is funded by Commonwealth Government. (Read more about PICAC and PICAC activities run by COTA NT).

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Seniors Card

The Seniors Card is a free card providing transport concessions and participating business discounts on a range of goods and services. To be eligible you must be a resident of the Territory, 60 years of age or over, and not working more than a set numbers of hours per week in paid employment. The Seniors Card program has been managed by COTA NT since February 2018 on behalf of the Northern Territory Government. (Visit the NT Seniors Card website for more information).

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Seniors Month

Seniors Month is held in August each year in the Northern Territory and provides a great opportunity to celebrate the positive aspects of ageing and the contribution that Territory Seniors make to their community. It is managed and supported by the Office of Senior Territorians. (Read more about Seniors Month).

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Volunteer Program

COTA NT’s volunteer program enables members to take an active part in COTA NT and assist with the organisation’s continued development. Our program is designed to have a dual role. It seeks to use the talents, combined experience and skills of our membership base while providing opportunities for volunteers to engage in tasks where they can develop new or existing skills and actively contribute to their organisation. (Read more about COTA volunteering). This program is open for sponsorship.

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Page updated October 2025