What does Ageism Awareness Day mean for older Australians?

Ageism Awareness Day, held every year in October, helps bring attention to examples of ageism and how older Australians can seek help for themselves

Ageism can affect older Australians in the community and workplaces, but inaccurate representation in advertisements concerns advocates.

Subtle age discrimination can lead to abuse of older Australians for whom help is available through a national abuse helpline.

More than two in five older Australians have experienced age-related discrimination, according to a recent Australian Human Rights Commission report.

Examples of ageism include assuming the level of support for an older person without considering them as an individual with strengths, excluding a person based on age, making decisions for an older person without consulting them, or taking control of their finances or assets based on age.

Council on the Ageing Australia Chief Executive Officer Pat Sparrow indicated why Ageism Awareness Day is crucial for ensuring that ageism doesn’t exist in the future.

“Ageism impacts us all. Ageism Awareness Day serves as a powerful reminder of the work we must do to create a more inclusive society for people of all ages,” she said.

“It’s an opportunity to reflect on how age-based stereotypes and discrimination affect us all, regardless of our current age.

“With Australia’s population ageing rapidly — projections show the number of Australians aged 65 and over will more than double in the next four decades — addressing ageism has become both a moral imperative and an economic necessity.”

Council on the Ageing Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria CEO, Ben Rogers, also highlighted the impact of ageism and the importance of advocacy.

“Ageism is the discrimination and mistreatment of people solely because of their age and addressing ageist issues is quite frankly at the heart of each and every one of our advocacy initiatives,” he said.

“Addressing ageism is a proactive way that we can make society more welcoming...and potentially prevent members of our community from the devastating impacts of elder abuse.”