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Commissioner call for older people

Older Victorians face widespread ageism, according to a report presented recently to the Victorian Parliament of the Inquiry into Opportunities for the Participation of Victorian Seniors. COTA Victoria strongly endorses the recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry and urges the Victorian government to implement necessary changes.

Older Victorians face widespread ageism, according to a report presented recently to the Victorian Parliament of the Inquiry into Opportunities for the Participation of Victorian Seniors.

COTA Victoria strongly endorses the recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry and urges the Victorian government to implement the necessary changes that would make Victoria a “good place for people to grow older”.

“One way of ensuring a transition to an age-friendly state would be to appoint a Commissioner for Older People,” David Craig, acting chief executive officer of COTA Victoria, says. 

“Such a Commissioner would be an independent voice and champion older people to ensure that those who are vulnerable and at risk are kept safe.

“A Commissioner for Older People would also make sure that their concerns are heard, that their human rights are protected and that they do not feel isolated or discriminated against.”

The Inquiry finds older Victorians are discriminated against in the workplace and in the community. It also reports the “ageist culture and discriminatory employer attitudes need to be challenged and changed”.

According to last year’s census, there were 417,041 women and 344,541 men aged over 65 years in Victoria. There are fewer older men but they have particular issues such as chronic illnesses and depression, and higher suicide risk.

“There are now as many people over 65 years as there are young people under 15 years. The skills and wisdom lost through lower participation of older people is most damaging to Victoria’s wellbeing,” Mr Craig says.

“The vitality of the Victorian community and its economy is linked to older people’s participation.

“The aged population will increase to well over one million in a few years’ time and unfortunately over the past years responses to ageing have been quite piecemeal.

“We desperately need a whole of government response driven by an independent Commissioner for Older People who reports to the Parliament.”

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