Tackling ageism and discrimination
No matter their age, background or gender, most people want to be part of our whole community. They want to be valued for their contribution and treated with respect. To age well requires our community to have a positive view of older people. It means recognising their ability to contribute to society and the economy. But many older people talk about their experience of ‘becoming invisible’ as they age. They are concerned their needs are often not acknowledged within the wider community.
Being treated differently because of your age can lead to feeling vulnerable and can erode self-esteem. While ageism is a driver of elder abuse, women are more likely than men to be victims through lifelong patterns of family violence. Women’s longer life expectancy means many more women live alone in later life. The number of homeless older women is increasing due to:
- family violence
- insecure housing and income
- lack of superannuation.
In 2020, Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kaye Paterson AO reported ageism across all ages as the most accepted form of prejudice in Australia. The average duration of mature age unemployment is 75 weeks. This compares with 48 weeks across all age groups. Older age is the main reason why employers reject job applications. A study by the University of New South Wales found increases in older-age participation in work are slowing. This is despite older Australians being healthier, more educated and more employable.
Older LGBTIQ+ people are likely to have experienced a history of stigma, isolation and criminalisation during most of their lifetime. This can have consequences for how private and discreet some are about their sexuality. For example, there is a trend of returning to live in ‘the closet’ once entering aged care due to a fear of discrimination and misunderstanding.
Intergenerational programs have the potential to reduce stigma associated with ageing. They can reduce discrimination and build social capital by strengthening intergenerational ties and promoting mutual support and understanding. Intergenerational programs can reduce or prevent social isolation. They can nurture a sense of taking part and of meaningful engagement. Also, by enabling older adults to mentor or tutor children and youth, intergenerational programs have the potential to improve life outcomes for younger people.
Providing support to employers to recruit and keep on older workers can address age discrimination in the workplace.
Timeline of what the government will deliver
Current and ongoing
We will deliver
Action to address the barriers faced by women that contribute to disadvantage in later life through the renewed Gender equality strategy.
Impact
Increased outcomes for women of all ages across four key focus areas of:
- safety
- health and wellbeing
- leadership and representation
- economic equity.
From July 2022
We will deliver
The State disability plan 2022–26. The plan aims to embed universal design principles in all elements of the design and delivery of infrastructure projects. It seeks to identify opportunities to strengthen safeguards to better protect people with disability who are at risk of abuse or neglect. This includes older Victorians.
Impact
Improved design and delivery of infrastructure projects for older Victorians and strengthened inclusive practices and better outcomes for people with disability.
What the government will deliver
Improved housing options for older people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage. This is based on the principle of ageing in place. It includes options to age in place in locations that maintain social networks. This includes action to prevent and respond to homelessness among older people as a priority cohort.
Impact
More stable housing options for vulnerable older people to age at home with support and social connections
From 2022
We will deliver
Extending the Seniors Card to Aboriginal people from age 50 years.
Impact
More Aboriginal older people will have access to Seniors Card benefits.
We will deliver
Alliances and collaborations on activities to improve awareness of ageism (Commissioner for Senior Victorians). This includes working with the Every Age Counts campaign. Every Age Counts is a long-term national campaign tackling ageism. It aims to improve the value and respect afforded to older people and the experience of growing older.
Impact
Increased awareness of the negative impacts of ageism and respect for older Victorians.
2022-23
We will deliver
Refreshed business discount offerings to older people through the Seniors Card and Senior Business Discount Card. We will review and update the Seniors Card digital channels. These include Seniors Online, the Seniors Card Facebook page and a digital Seniors Card.
Impact
More and easier-to-reach Seniors Card offers will help reduce the cost of living for older people.
We will deliver
Pathways for older people into the post-compulsory education and training system. We will work with the Victorian Skills Authority and the Department of Education and Training to deliver this. It will involve exploring the barriers that prevent older people from accessing courses for reskilling and retraining. It will also cover the associated transition into meaningful employment.
Impact
Older long-term unemployed people have more opportunity to gain employment.
We will deliver
The continued trial of an integrated model of care for responding to suspected elder abuse in five public health services.
Impact
Strengthened elder abuse identification, responses and support across five health services.
We will deliver
Eight Elder Abuse Prevention Networks for a further year. This will ensure service responses and primary prevention efforts continue to support and protect older Victorians from elder abuse.
Impact
Elder abuse prevention through targeted local community action that raises awareness of and addresses the drivers of elder abuse.
We will deliver
The continuation of the Preventing Elder Abuse Through Financial Counselling project in bushfire-affected communities of East Gippsland, Alpine and Towong. This will ensure targeted support for older people. It will help the finance and related workforces to identify, prevent and respond to elder abuse alongside recovery efforts.
Impact
Targeted and timely support to older people in bushfire-affected communities, helping to prevent or reduce elder abuse.
Timeline of what the government is delivering
Current
We are delivering
The Jobs Victoria Fund provides wage subsidies of up to $20,000 to help businesses employ new staff, with a focus on groups of jobseekers most affected by the economic impacts of the pandemic. The Fund has specifically set aside $50m for women over the age of 45.
The Fund also supports targeted, large-scale projects that provide people with training and jobs in sectors with workforce shortages, with a focus on older workers – particularly increasing women’s participation in majority-men industries, such as transport and logistics.
Impact
Increased support for older long-term job seekers and businesses to employ older workers.
We are delivering
Local Jobs Victoria Advocates support Victorians looking for work and help people navigate employment and training services through proactive outreach in local communities – in libraries, community centres, sports clubs, public housing foyers and shopping centres – to connect people with the information, support and training that is right for them.
Jobs Victoria Advocates focus on communities where rates of unemployment are high to help increase social and economic participation and engage with community members to understand their needs and connect them to relevant services.
Impact
Increased support for older long-term job seekers.
We are delivering
Jobs Victoria Mentors work with job seekers of all ages to help them become work-ready, find a job that suits them, and to support them in their role for the first six months. Mentors offer personalised support by connecting job seekers to services such as re-training, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy courses and referrals to Skills & Job Centres that can help with resumes.
Impact
Increased confidence for older job seekers and workers to explore career options.
We are delivering
A Jobs Victoria Careers Counsellor to provide assistance to plan work goals, such as a job search, or to identify skills and strengths, or to explore a career change.
Impact
Increased confidence for older job seekers and workers to explore career options.
Current and ongoing
We are delivering
Continued encouragement to councils to plan for people to age well in place through age-friendly communities. Improving the health and wellbeing of older people through municipal public health and wellbeing plans.
Impact
The needs of an ageing population are included in municipal public health and wellbeing plans and services.
Updated