Do Seniors Matter in Australia… We ask Senator Fifield

Senator Fifield, the Assistant Minister for Social Services and designate for ageing, has approached us here at Starts at Sixty to talk to you, Australia’s largest and most highly engaged online community of over 60s.  He wants to know what matters to us here as Seniors, and how we want our Government to support ageing over coming years.  He wants to share with you the steps the Government is taking, and he wants your feedback.  We’re happy to be able to facilitate this conversation here at Starts at Sixty over the next few weeks. 

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Ageing is a big issue in our country and not one we as a nation can afford to ignore. At the end of 2013, the total over-50 population in Australia was 7.49 million representing 39% of the adult population.  And the 2011 Census revealed more than 3.7 million Australians were over 65 years of age; more than 420,000 people were over the age of 85 and 3,485 were centenarians. By 2050, it is estimated that around 23 per cent of the population will be 65 and over.

And this means we’ll see our community change significantly over coming years.  For each older person in 2007, there were five “traditional” working-age people from 15 to 64 years of age, while in 2056 there will be less than three “traditional” working-age people for every older person

The fact is, with this change coming, that there are many things the government will have to do to support us.

Changes will need to be made to encourage and allow people to stay in the workforce longer so everyone can afford to live longer.  We’ll need to drive older people to treasure their health and wellbeing so our healthcare system doesn’t spiral in cost, and we need to provide social and community infrastructure that supports such a large older population.  It is no easy task.  And the man in the hot seat, accountable for all these challenges is Senator Mitch Fifield.

Senator Fifield was sworn into the Senate in 2004, and in 2013, was appointed as the Assistant Minister for Social Services, with responsibilities for disability and ageing.

To me, this means that Senator Fifield is the most important designate for our community, and one we hope to get to know quite well over the next few years.

So to do so, Senator Fifield has offered us some insight into what the Government is prioritising, and has suggested we then ask him some questions… and tell him more about what the ageing population needs, directly and openly.

What is the Government doing for our Ageing population? 

Looking through the large pile of press statements and information briefs that Senator Fifield’s office sent through prior to our discussions, the Government is clearly very concerned with the provision of aged care and in-home care for those who want to remain in their homes as life gets tougher.

“The Australian Government believes that older Australians should have the support and care they need to continue to live at home for as long as they choose,” said Senator Fifield earlier this year.

New funding of $240M, announced in January will help Australians access domestic services like cleaning, meals, nursing care and transport that will help them live independently in their home longer in life.

The Government is also working hard to simplify the aged care industry, cutting the red tape for aged care centres so they can focus on doing what they do best…caring for older Australians. Paperwork that has been previously required in the aged care industry would typically take up to 30% of an aged care workers time has now been significantly cut back

These two commitments are greatly appreciated, but we figure there must be more in the Government’s priorities for the ageing population outside of the aged care industry.

I am very curious about what our Government will be doing for the other 92% of the population over 60 that will probably never see the inside of an aged care facility.  The Hon. Bronwyn Bishop, Speaker in the Parliament and candidate for the Minister for Seniors in the 2013 election once said to me that only 8% of the population will ever go into “Aged Care”.  Meanwhile this 92% of the population over 60 is grappling with being the first superannuation generation many of whom have not near enough savings to survive a long retirement.  They therefore have to work many years longer than their predecessors in a workforce that is not supportive of older workers.  Then, when they do retire, many face greater isolation than ever in our fast paced world in which they can find limited roles to play as they age.

We want to know how the Governemnt plans to support these challenges, the raw and real challenges of ageing in Australia.

Ask our Government representative a question…

Our Government wants to know what is important to you as the ageing face of Australia and what you want from the Government in power.

You are the ageing population this Government serves, they want to know directly from your mouth, what your needs are; what your challenges are and what your concerns are.  So today we begin a three step process of engaging with our Government.

Firstly, we want to ask you what you want to know from the Government.  Ask a question.  Just post it in the comments field below.

From this we’ll put together a great series of questions that need answers and put them to Senator Fifield.   He’s waiting for them.

And finally, Senator Fifield and the current Government will provide answers.

As I am sure you will respect, this process will not be easy, and we’re going to work our hardest to make sure everyone is heard, no matter what your political beliefs.

They want to make sure you know what the Government is doing to make Seniors Matter, and because this is our pledge as a community [to make Seniors Matter], we have offered to chair the conversation here at Starts at Sixty.

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