Thirst to learn
Media release
28 October 2010
Australia is missing out on increased productivity and improved wellbeing amongst older adults because of a lack of investment in learning and educational opportunities, according to a new report.
The National Seniors Australia report entitled Later Life Learning: Unlocking the Potential for Productive Ageing has found that to reap the social and economic benefits of learning in later life, it is important for governments and providers of adult learning to do more to address the barriers currently in place.
National Seniors Australia general manager of policy, Peter Matwijiw, said despite all the positive research which links being mentally active to living longer and healthier lives, the issue was not being taken seriously enough.
“There is all this talk about increasing training and learning opportunities to ensure older people are able to work longer but there is not a mutual recognition in terms of what is being invested,’’ he said.
“Investment should continue to include benefits to employers for providing training for older workers, but expand to give access to low cost courses for individuals who are both in and out of the labour force, as well as supporting increased awareness about lifelong learning.
“In a study of older learners, 80 per cent reported an improvement in life satisfaction, self confidence, self-image or ability to cope due to engagement in learning.
“Engagement in learning and education is linked to economic, social and health benefits, especially in the older age groups, but compared to our international counterparts, there is much more we can do.”
The benefits of later learning include: preventing social isolation through networks and connecting with other individuals; improvements in mental health and warding off diseases such as Alzheimer’s; and the economic benefits include providing more knowledgeable and skilled workers in the workforce.
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.
28 October 2010
Older adults still have a thirst to learn
Australia is missing out on increased productivity and improved wellbeing amongst older adults because of a lack of investment in learning and educational opportunities, according to a new report.
The National Seniors Australia report entitled Later Life Learning: Unlocking the Potential for Productive Ageing has found that to reap the social and economic benefits of learning in later life, it is important for governments and providers of adult learning to do more to address the barriers currently in place.
National Seniors Australia general manager of policy, Peter Matwijiw, said despite all the positive research which links being mentally active to living longer and healthier lives, the issue was not being taken seriously enough.
“There is all this talk about increasing training and learning opportunities to ensure older people are able to work longer but there is not a mutual recognition in terms of what is being invested,’’ he said.
“Investment should continue to include benefits to employers for providing training for older workers, but expand to give access to low cost courses for individuals who are both in and out of the labour force, as well as supporting increased awareness about lifelong learning.
“In a study of older learners, 80 per cent reported an improvement in life satisfaction, self confidence, self-image or ability to cope due to engagement in learning.
“Engagement in learning and education is linked to economic, social and health benefits, especially in the older age groups, but compared to our international counterparts, there is much more we can do.”
The benefits of later learning include: preventing social isolation through networks and connecting with other individuals; improvements in mental health and warding off diseases such as Alzheimer’s; and the economic benefits include providing more knowledgeable and skilled workers in the workforce.
Media contact: 07 3233 9135
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.
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