The Community Hub Active Ageing Together (CHAT Link) initiative returns to Camden in 2026 with social events, workshops and outings designed to connect residents aged 55+.
Morning light settles softly across the historic streets of Camden, where verandas cast long shadows and the cafés along Argyle Street begin their daily rhythm. A handful of locals gather outside the library doors before opening time, exchanging greetings that carry the familiarity of routine. For many here, community life unfolds gradually – in conversations across park benches, during quiet walks along the Nepean River, or through gatherings that bring neighbours together for a shared purpose.
In 2026, that rhythm finds renewed energy through the Community Hub Active Ageing Together (CHAT Link) initiative, a year-long program designed to connect residents aged 55 and over through activities that combine movement, learning and social exchange. Across Camden and surrounding suburbs, community halls, libraries and local venues will host a steady calendar of gatherings – some practical, some playful – all rooted in the simple idea that ageing can be an active, shared experience.
Rather than focusing on a single event, the Community Hub Active Ageing Together (CHAT Link) initiative unfolds slowly across the year, offering moments of connection that feel woven into the everyday life of the region.
A Community Rhythm: The Community Hub Active Ageing Together (CHAT Link) Initiative
Camden has long carried the atmosphere of a town where people still greet each other by name. Though the area has grown rapidly in recent years, the older civic spaces – libraries, halls and sports clubs – remain steady anchors for local gatherings.
The Community Hub Active Ageing Together (CHAT Link) initiative builds on that sense of familiarity. Through more than thirty activities scheduled across 2026, the program encourages residents to stay engaged with both their community and their own wellbeing.
Some events take place indoors, where the quiet focus of a chessboard or a trivia quiz fills the room with friendly competition. Others move outdoors, where walking groups or gentle sporting activities invite participants to rediscover familiar landscapes from a new perspective.
The approach is deliberately broad. Croquet lawns, birdwatching walks, exercise sessions and creative workshops sit alongside practical learning opportunities – everything from digital literacy to safety awareness. In each setting, the emphasis remains the same: participation over performance, curiosity over routine.
Shared Spaces Across Camden
Many of the gatherings linked to the Community Hub Active Ageing Together (CHAT Link) initiative take place in venues that locals already know well. The stately rooms of the Camden Civic Centre will host several sessions throughout the year, transforming from civic meeting space into a lively hub of conversation.
Libraries also play a central role. At the digital learning spaces inside Narellan Library and Oran Park Library, workshops introduce hands-on activities ranging from craft sessions to practical training courses.
These locations form part of the wider network of public spaces that shape daily life in the Camden region. Here, the program feels less like an organised series of events and more like an extension of community life already in motion.
Pop-up information sessions will also appear across local libraries, where health providers and community organisations share guidance on services available within the region. In this way, the Community Hub Active Ageing Together (CHAT Link) initiative becomes not only a social calendar but also a gateway to local support.
Outings And Experiences Through The Community Hub Active Ageing Together (CHAT Link) Initiative
Among the highlights of the year is a bus trip that gently shifts the scenery beyond Camden’s borders. On Monday 13 April, participants will depart early in the morning for a coastal journey toward the towns of Berry and Kiama.
Such outings offer a different kind of connection – the chance to explore landscapes that many residents may remember from earlier travels. Along the South Coast, markets, cafés and seaside walks create space for relaxed conversation between fellow travellers.
Back in Camden, other events bring quieter pleasures. A safety workshop titled Road Ready and Street Smart offers practical information about navigating modern roads and transport. Later in the year, a terrarium workshop invites participants to shape small living ecosystems within glass containers – an activity that pairs patience with creativity.
The program moves comfortably between learning and leisure, acknowledging that curiosity rarely fades with age.
Conversations Over Tea
One of the most anticipated gatherings in the Community Hub Active Ageing Together (CHAT Link) initiative arrives in spring. At the historic Gledswood Homestead and Winery, the Spring High Tea invites participants to settle into a slower afternoon.
The homestead, surrounded by gently rolling grounds, carries the quiet elegance of colonial architecture. Beneath wide verandas, tables fill with teapots, pastries and conversation. High tea in this setting becomes less about formality and more about shared storytelling – recollections of earlier decades, comparisons of family traditions, or simply the pleasure of lingering over a warm drink.
Event Details
Program: Community Hub Active Ageing Together (CHAT Link) Initiative
Location: Various venues across Camden LGA, NSW
Key Events Include:
- Berry and Kiama Bus Trip – Monday 13 April 2026, 8:30am–5:00pm (Departing Camden Sports Club & Narellan Library)
- Road Ready And Street Smart Session – Wednesday 13 May 2026, 10:30am–12:00pm at Camden Civic Centre
- Trivia Time – Thursday 18 June 2026, 10:30am–12:30pm at Camden Civic Centre
- Gledswood Spring High Tea – Thursday 10 September 2026, 11:00am–2:00pm at Gledswood Homestead and Winery
- CPR Training – Tuesday 15 September 2026, 10:30am–12:00pm at Narellan Library
- Terrarium Workshop – Wednesday 23 September 2026, 10:00am–12:00pm at Narellan Library Digital Space
- Grandparents Day Event – Thursday 22 October 2026, 10:30am–12:30pm at Oran Park Library
- Christmas Lunch – Thursday 26 November 2026, 11:00am–2:00pm at Camden Civic Centre
- Creative Christmas Workshop – Thursday 3 December 2026, 10:30am–12:30pm at Narellan Library Digital Space
More Information: https://www.camden.nsw.gov.au