This ACTION is now closed. We are collating the data and will be sharing the results in a comprehensive report in November 2025. Thank you to all the participants.
Are you aged 45 and over? Are you enjoying the confidence and wisdom of experience, living in a world that is inclusive and respectful of your age? Or do you feel that your voice doesn’t matter because you are ‘too old’ and in the way of younger people? Has your gender had an impact on how you age?
Or is age not relevant to you and something you don’t think about? Ageing affects all of us, but it does not affect all of us in the same way. Whatever your experience of ageing, we want to hear from you.
At COTA, we are working to ensure that Australia is inclusive and respectful of all people as we age. We want the best outcomes for all Australians, as we age, but we need your lived experience and collaboration to do this.
Your voice and lived experience matter.
We want to understand your experience of ageing, and what ageing well means today and for the future. To do this, we have created this survey so we can hear from you directly. It builds on the work we have undertaken in our previous surveys.
Why we need this feedback.
More Australians are living longer, healthier lives. Even though we are all ageing, and this is a normal part of life, there are many barriers to living well, as we age. These have profound implications on how we live.
The media continues to portray ageing as a problem, with a prevailing narrative of decline, frailty and vulnerability. Many employers won’t hire people over the age of 50. Older women continue to be disproportionately at risk of poverty, homelessness and violence. For some, ageing can compound the impact of other inequalities over a lifetime, leading to worse financial, health and safety outcomes. Others are burdened by care responsibilities. Politically, Australia does not have a national strategy on ageing. Work on an international convention on the rights of older people has only just begun after decades of advocacy.
These are some of the systemic and structural barriers we need to change!
Your contribution to this survey will inform our reporting to government, build a case for change, inform our advocacy and help build an Australia where ageing is valued and respected.
How long will the survey take?
This survey is longer than some of our other surveys and asks you for detailed answers. You can opt out at any time, but it would help our research and advocacy if you answer as many questions as possible. The more data and insights we have, the stronger our advocacy, and the stronger your voices.
This survey will take approximately 25 minutes of your time, and only the first question is compulsory. The survey will close at midnight on Sunday 7th September.
Privacy
We do not ask for any identifying data, unless you consent to us contacting you for further research. We will only keep your data for the purposes of this research and will do so in keeping with our privacy policy. We will not disclose or share any personal details.
