A future without age
A select audience of policy makers, business leaders and academics came together for the GAP/ACHR Conference on Productive Ageing on Friday 17 May. GAP’s General Manager, Catherine Fritz-Kalish, explains why we need to discuss the employment situation of mature Australians.
Reflecting on my father’s impending 70th birthday I thought about what my life may be like when I am 70. I hadn’t given the idea much thought before. I am about to turn 40. At 39, 70 seemed far away. One thing I knew was that I wanted to be working and active and contributing in some way to my community and the environment. I certainly didn’t want to feel like I was past my prime or not useful.
At 70, my father is an inspiration – working hard, loving life, healthy and active and contributing more than most, regardless of age. He is a great role model, but through discussions with him and others, I have come to understand that he is an exception, and that for most Australians the prospect of continuing a career they love well into their 70s and 80s is an unattainable goal.
This realisation was the catalyst for the GAP/ACHR Conference on Productive Ageing – ‘A Future without Age’. This Conference in essence is what my father wanted as his birthday present. An opportunity to bring Australia’s leading government, business and academic representatives together for a broad discussion on how to improve the employment situation for mature members of the community.
One hundred thought leaders convened in the Legislative Assembly of NSW Parliament House to look at the current situation concerning employment of over 50 year olds and address issues related to the productivity of mature Australians.
The conference discussed how to build the infrastructure to facilitate re-skilling, combatting age bias and how to develop a mindset that allows anyone to adapt to the ever changing environments we navigate as we age.
A National Standing Committee to progress solutions to some of these issues will be established following the conference, and a formal report of discussions will be produced and made available to relevant stakeholders and the wider community. Excerpts from the discussions will be published on Open Forum to allow further debate. I would encourage everyone to contribute.
From my point of view, I look at this conference as an opportunity to glimpse into what my working life may be like 30 years from now and, more importantly, to help shape the future I would like to be living. It is an opportunity to engage all Australians in a discussion around a topic that will at some point have a profound impact on their lives. It is relevant to all of us.
Catherine Fritz-Kalish is the co-founder and Managing Director of Global Access Partners (GAP) and Director of the International Centre for Democratic Partnerships (ICDP) and ICDP Foundation. She also holds Board positions for a number of not-for-profit organisations.
