Productive Ageing

As a growing number of still active people in their mid-60s reach retirement, they are no longer content to ‘’keep busy’’ with hobbies, travel, volunteering and grandchildren.

Many seek a life of extra purpose, meaning and personal fulfilment. In stark contrast with the dream of earlier generations to finally achieve “the freedom from work”, the aspiration of many in this new wave is “the freedom to keep working”.

Ahead of the GAP/ACHR A Future without ‘Age’ Conference to be held in the Legislative Assembly Chamber of NSW Parliament House at the end of May, Open Forum will explore the social implications and economic opportunities created by Australia’s ageing population.

The profound change in life expectancy generated by medical advances and higher living standards over the past six decades have created a new period of life of some 20-30 years between the traditional retirement age of many people and their dotage. A new ‘age’ has evolved, wedged between middle-age and old age.

Keeping people of mature age in the workforce for longer has been a policy goal of successive Australian governments. However, most initiatives to date have focused on the years leading up to retirement, including an extension of the superannuation guarantee and remedial employment services for older job seekers after redundancy.

There has been no attempt to determine why redundancy occurs in the first place.

There are no formal resources to help the increasing number of senior Australians seeking a productive “third age”. This remains a journey without a map.

If you’d like to share your thought and ideas on productive ageing or be involved in the Conference, please contact Helen at hhull@openforum.com.au.

Follow the Conference on twitter at #ProductiveAgeing2013.

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RELATED CONTENT

Productive Ageing Blogs:

• Are you the retiring type? – by The Hon. Susan Ryan
• The University of Life experience – by Senator Eric Abetz
• A new age for Australia’s workforce – by Neil Batt
• Managing an ageing workforce – by Peter Fritz
• Redefining old age: Baby Boomers re-write the history books – by Garry Jennings
• Is early retirement history? – by Philip Taylor
• Productive ageing – please explain! – by Veronica Sheen
• Population ageing beyond the balance sheet – by Rafal Chomik
• Productive Ageing with a focus on social connections by Ben Spies-Butcher
• Navigate the employment landscape: use your age to your advantage – by Heidi Holmes
• Love the Ones You’re With: An Ode to Older Workers – by Leanne Faraday-Brash
• Are senior Australians being squeezed by the cost of living? – by Tim Adair
• Learning from China’s positive attitude towards older workers – by Zoe Li
• Use your age to your advantage: Workshop – by admin

Producting Ageing keynote speeches and blogs:

• A future without age – by Catherine Fritz-Kalish
• Harnessing the Ageing Boom – by Senator Eric Abetz
• Workforce Participation Rates and Economic Growth – by Dr Ian Watt AO
• Ageism as a barrier to employment – by The Hon. Susan Ryan
• Productive Engagement – by Heidi Holmes
• Helping our older residents to shift into the Third Age – by Sally Betts
• Pensioners need more support – by Derek McMillan

Previous conferences summits:

• GAP’s National Economic Review 2010: Australia’s Annual Growth Summit – featured forum
• GAP’s National Economic Review 2011: Australia’s Annual Growth Summit – Population – featured forum
• GAP’s National Economic Review 2012: Australia’s Annual Growth Summit – Productivity – featured forum