Page 5595 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 November 2010
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report by Anglicare, author Alan Gruner explores how Australia’s ageing future has been framed in the public discourse. He states:
We are going grey as a nation but so often policy and media discussion deliver a hand-wringing, negative message about ageing. The growth in our aged population is regarded as a problem for society; a burden on future workforces and on our publicly funded health and housing services. Too often the discussion is reduced to facilities and numbers of beds rather than how people can live and age well.
This quote only touches on some of the more negative stereotypes or perceptions. There can often be a belief that an ageing population is a burden on society, and a focus on the financial burden older people present to society rather than the positives. It is important that we counter these views and opinions and give older people a voice to talk about their lives. By providing a voice to people who can be alienated, you can shift their disempowerment to empowerment. Providing an opportunity for people to voice their concerns counters isolation that too many older people already experience.
I have met with groups such as Tuggeranong 55 Plus Club, the Brindabella Women’s Group and the Tuggeranong Men’s Shed. It was highly evident from these groups the importance of providing meaningful opportunities for social and intellectual engagement. This can counter health and other issues such as depression. Keeping older people engaged in public discourse is a challenging task, especially for people who feel marginalised because of their age or frailty. There is also the ongoing challenge of age-based discrimination and prejudice that create further social isolation for people.
I would like to acknowledge in debating this motion today the positive contributions made by older people; for instance, the endless hours of volunteering from older people alone keeps many community organisations afloat, the fact that older people provide much needed experience and act as mentors for younger workers, childcare duties, unpaid carers and participation at local and community interest groups. In the ACT, as I have already noted, I have met with members of the Tuggeranong Men’s Shed who give their time and knowledge to help young people at risk to learn trades such as carpentry. The Brindabella Women’s Group is another group of older people who come together, share their skills and use these skills to contribute to community services.
As many commentators have already noted, older people cannot be classed as one homogenous group. It is vitally important that we look at and address people’s individuals needs and circumstances. Older people contribute immensely to our society and when speaking about this group we need to acknowledge that not everyone has the confidence or the skills to participate in public forums or write submissions. This is why we need to investigate new and creative ways of engaging people. Consultation can often be quite reactive about specific issues and this process will typically engage people who have a specific interest. An older people’s assembly is about engaging in a much more positive and active consultation and involving people who may not normally become involved in public consultation processes.
The ACT Greens believe that older people need to be consulted and engaged in the formulation and implementation of policies that affect their wellbeing. Older people
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