Attitute towards age needs to change: report

Government policy needs to improve and social and commercial attitudes must change according to a report following the Productive Ageing conference.

“A Future without ‘Age’” was the core theme of the conference, hosted by Global Access Partner (GAP) and the Australian Centre for Health Research (ACHR), held at NSW Parliament House on 17 May 2013.

The report identifies the key topics of the day as the social implications and economic opportunities created by Australia’s ageing population.

Members of government, commercial and civic organisations who participated in the event agreed on strategies towards a ‘future without age’, including mature workforce participation, expanded volunteering and other socially beneficial activities.

They also decided that government policy need to improve and social and commercial attitudes must change.

Employer and employee attitudes don’t match these demographic realities. Ageist prejudices persist, while tax and superannuation arrangements can still encourage retirement rather than continued employment, despite recent government reforms.

Speakers discussed how in 1970, only 8 per cent of Australians were older than 64; while in 2050, almost a quarter will be 64 or more. Pension ages have been increased, but still don’t take growing life expectancy sufficiently into account.

Although workforce participation by over 55s is on the rise, a rise of 3 per cent would increase GDP by $33 billion, while 5 per cent growth would see 750,000 benefit recipients become tax payers and give the economy a $48 billion boost. Two million older people are willing and able to work and their underutilisation currently costs Australia $10.8 billion a year in lost GDP.

The report highlights recommendations to government (continue the reform of public policy), employers (rethink recruitment and commercial attitudes) and individuals (empower individual action and agency).

The findings of an interactive workshop encouraging delegates to consider the most pressing issues, blockages and success factors affecting the employment of mature workers in Australia are also included in report.
Download the full Report of Proceedings here.