Living Longer. Living Better.
Positive Ageing Agenda for Australia
Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians
The Panel: Everald Compton AM (Chair), Prof Brian Howe AO and Prof Gill LewinThe ageing of Australia’s population presents great opportunities for our community and economy if we properly harness the skills and experience of older Australians. At a time when older Australians are living longer, healthier lives, their involvement in the community and workforce if they wish, should be seen as offering great benefits, rather than presenting problems.
As part of our plan to prepare for these major changes to our population, in March 2011 the Government established the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians. This Panel examined the opportunities for our country to benefit from the lifetime of knowledge and expertise that older Australians have built up.
The Panel presented its final report to Government in December 2011, and the Government’s first stage response is designed to provide older Australians with more options and knowledge about how they can stay connected to the community.
A Positive Ageing Agenda
The Government is creating policies to harness these demographic and societal shifts and aims to enable older Australians to live more active and financially secure lives in retirement. The Advisory Panel’s Final Report highlighted the importance of taking a fresh approach in key areas, such as:- reducing the prevalence of age discrimination in communities so older people can continue to participate in the workforce if they choose;
- encouraging lifelong learning and active ageing so people can be active and resilient, stay connected and increase their general wellbeing;
- good health and housing to allow Australians to maintain independence, and reduce isolation and disengagement.
Themes of the Advisory Panel's Final Report
The image above is explained in detail in second paragraph of 'New Steps to Realise the Potential of Senior Australians'