Rudd plan for ‘golden gurus’

The Rudd Government has decided to give its backing to a “Golden Gurus” scheme that would encourage experienced older mentors to pass on their knowledge and wisdom to Australia’s community groups and small businesses.

The move follows the Government’s 2020 summit of ideas last April and is listed by Prime Minister (PM) Kevin Rudd as one of the five best ideas to come out of the summit and is due to be implemented with Government assistance during 2009.

Through the development of the national ‘Golden Gurus’ mentoring scheme the Rudd Government plans “to help meet the challenges of our ageing population and pass on valuable experience from retirees to new generations”.

The proposal has received a mixed response from social commentators at a time when the PM himself confirmed this week that Australia itself cannot escape recession.

As social affairs writer Stephen Lunn said in The Australian, “with their net worth having been slashed by upwards of 20% in shares, property, and super in the past year, will these older Australians instead be clinging on to the workforce for dear life, or looking for new jobs themselves”.