Over-60s can do more to help run the country

After spending a considerable amount of our lives working, those who can stop are considered some of the luckiest around. A lot of retirees choose to head off and experience Australia or go overseas to indulge in other cultures and communities. But what happens when the travel stops and you realise that you have a little bit more time on your hands than you know what to do with?

Oh yes, there are of course days pursuing athletic prowess; not everyone plays golf, I’m sure. There are crafty activities such as sewing, knitting and embroidery. There are days where the opportunity for sunshine on one’s limbs can pull you out into the garden. Of course there are those grandchildren — spending time with them can be lots of fun. There are also opportunities for you to help the Australian government run the country. Say what now?

Consider it a volunteer position. You’re not being asked to run for your local electorate (although if you’ve got the passion for your community and think politics is for you, by all means have a crack). You won’t need to relocate, and you probably won’t have to move in a different social circle to the one you’ve already established. Nope! With a little bit of time on your hands, you are now perfectly placed to have your say on the various senate committees of inquiry.

Let me explain.

On any given day, our Australian senate has a number of inquiries to make in order to assist it in determining what the populous wants in relation to a specific area. Terms of reference are issues and interested citizens and organisations are asked to make their submission on the matter. For example, you might have an interest in and thoughts on the accessibility and quality of mental health services being provided to rural and remote Australians. Well, there’s an inquiry for that and now is the time to have your say. If you want to have your say on how aged care residents can be protected from abuse and poor practices, there’s an inquiry into that too.

The full list of current senate inquiries can open doors into giving the over-60s a voice of influence. Guaranteed our experiences and knowledge can be useful when putting pen to paper to write a submission. You might even get a call to address the committee if your concerns, ideas or recommendations need further discussion.

Over the years, I have submitted several responses to requests for submission and although I have never been asked to attend a committee, I do know that someone has read my submissions and may have been better informed because of it. There are things that we can do to help improve Australia.

Have you ever made a submission to a senate committee inquiry? What issues and topics would you be interested in contributing your opinions to?

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