New blueprint pushes the business of ageing
Older Australians have welcomed a blueprint launched in Canberra last week which casts population ageing as a business opportunity rather than a national problem.
The long awaited Blueprint for an Ageing Australia, first envisaged by former National Seniors chairman, Everald Compton, three years ago, faltered late last year with government funding cuts.
After finding private backers and many months of consultations, the Blueprint’s panel of prominent minds finally launched its completed strategy at the National Press Club.
“Every nation has a choice: you can turn ageing into a crisis or you can turn it into an asset,” says Everald Compton, panel charman. “The ageing market is a growing industry and astute businesses will want to be part of it,” he adds.
Eighty three year old, Mr Compton, vows to lobby every politician and business leader with his last breath to ensure the Blueprint doesn't end up “gathering dust”.
Sarah Saunders, acting National Seniors chief executive, says the project is refreshing in turning the rhetoric around and casting ageing as something positive.
“The document highlights that the $8 trillion spent by the over-60s globally will, by 2020, almost double to $15 trillion. If Australia embraces the business of ageing, and does it well, the potential to export and capitalize on our knowledge in this area is huge,” Ms Saunders says.
The Blueprint highlights that Australians aged 50 to 69 years hold more than 40% of the national wealth.
It focuses on the contributions seniors can make in philanthropy, entrepreneurship and the labour market, but emphasises that their efforts must be supported by a dedicated Minister for Ageing and enabling environments across transport, building design and technology.
For a copy of the Blueprint, call Sarah Saunders on 0409 055 156 or click here.
