Australia’s five and a half million older citizens want a future free from discrimination; to be able to participate fully in Australian society; and to have access to quality and affordable services when they need them, said leading seniors advocate COTA Australia on the eve of the International Day of Older Persons.
COTA Australia Chief Executive Ian Yates said the theme of this year’s International Day is The future we want: what older persons are saying.
“The International Day of Older Persons reminds us to celebrate the contributions and achievements of older people at home and across the world and acknowledge the challenges they face.
“Compared to many other countries, most older Australians can enjoy a reasonable standard of living, but we still have a long way to go to treat all older people with the respect they deserve.
“Ageism is alive and well in Australia, but our age discrimination laws are weaker than any of the other anti-discrimination Acts, despite the fact that over a third of older Australians say they have directly experienced Age-related discrimination.
“Nearly a third of the long term unemployed on the inadequate Newstart Allowance are over 55 and many face poverty for life as they languish, often unable to find employment for ten years or more, before they qualify for the properly indexed aged pension.
“Access to affordable housing is an ongoing challenge for many older people and out-of-pocket health and aged care expenses hit older Australians particularly hard.
“Solutions exist to all these issues but they require a co-ordinated approach across Federal government portfolios and I urge the newly elected government to commit to developing an Ageing Strategy which takes a whole-of government approach to an ageing population.”
On the theme of what older people want for their future, Mr Yates said older people tell COTA they want to enjoy the same rights and entitlements as the rest of the population, not be consigned to second class citizenship.
“What older people really want is to be able to continue to have an active, healthy and productive life for as long as possible, with appropriate supports if required.
“They want to have the option to stay in the workforce for as long they choose, contribute to community, age in their homes and communities and access good quality and affordable health and aged care should they need it.”
Media contact: Ian Yates 0418 835 439, Jane Garcia 0434 489 533