6 September 2011

The message from Victoria’s seniors: “We’ve got more to offer”

A parliamentary inquiry today heard from Victorian seniors who say they have more to offer the workforce and the wider community and shouldn’t be viewed as ‘invisible’ just because of their age.

The public hearing was held today in Melbourne as part of the Inquiry into Opportunities for Participation of Victorian Seniors being conducted by the Family and Community Development Committee.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics projects that, between 2011 and 2020, the number of persons aged 50 and over in Victoria will increase by 22 per cent. By 2050, the number of Victorians aged 50 and over is projected to increase by 85 per cent, or 1.5 million.

Victoria’s rapidly ageing population is one of the catalysts for the inquiry into senior Victorians.

National Seniors Australia, which has more than 50,000 members in Victoria alone, made a submission to the inquiry highlighting issues such as transport, housing, cost of living pressures, mature age workers, and social and community participation.

National Seniors chairman Judith Sloan said the top three concerns for senior Victorians were health and wellbeing, financial security and being valued so they can contribute more to society.

“Older Victorians want to contribute more to the workforce but many face problems with mature age unemployment,’’ Sloan said.

“They want employers to recognise that they have further, quality contributions to make.

“Seniors also want to be valued and appreciated for the contributions they make in other parts of society such as in their roles as grandparents, carers and the like.”

Health and aged care was also an important issue raised.

“Victorians want to be assured that when they need it, the support and care is there for them and that it’s appropriate,’’ she said.

Financial security was also a major concern with many seniors on fixed incomes worried about diminished spending and outliving their savings, Sloan said.

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With a quarter of a million members Australia-wide, National Seniors is the consumer lobby for the over 50s. It is the fourth largest organisation of its type in the world.