When Pauline, 68, arrived at a boutique clothing store in Brisbane recently, she was met with a familiar experience. Staff glanced past her to younger shoppers while she stood waiting. “It happens all the time,” she says. “It can feel like once you’re over 60 you become invisible.”
For many Australians, Pauline’s story is far too relatable. Ageism – the stereotypes and discrimination directed at people solely because of their age – has been dubbed the “last socially acceptable prejudice.” Unlike racism or sexism, many Australians don’t see it as particularly offensive, and often dismiss it as harmless joking or just part of life. But advocates and researchers warn that age discrimination can have real consequences – for self-esteem, for financial security, and even for health.
So how can older Australians fight back? Experts argue that awareness, confidence and collective change can shift the conversation.
Subtle but damaging
Ageism in everyday life often appears subtly. It’s the assumptions made when a shop assistant slows their speech unnecessarily. It’s the employer who quietly passes over an older applicant, convinced they won’t “keep up with the pace.” It’s the medical professional who assumes symptoms are “just ageing” rather than exploring further causes.
Commissioner for Senior Australians at the Australian Human Rights Commission, Robert Fitzgerald, has described ageism as “so widespread it is almost invisible.” He says community attitudes often pigeonhole older Australians as frail, resistant to technology, or economically unproductive. “These stereotypes don’t reflect the reality that older Australians remain active consumers, workers, carers, volunteers and community leaders,” he explained in a recent report.
For individuals, being constantly overlooked or underestimated takes a toll. The Benevolent Society’s EveryAGE Counts campaign revealed that people who feel they’re being treated as “too old” often limit themselves socially and professionally – not applying for jobs, avoiding learning opportunities, or even disengaging from healthcare.
The workplace challenge
Employment is one of the biggest battlegrounds for age discrimination. Research from the Australian HR Institute shows that one in three organisations admits to rejecting candidates aged over 55 purely on the basis of age. Despite Australia’s low unemployment rate and skills shortages in many industries, older workers often describe their job search as demoralising.
Margaret, 64, from Melbourne, spent two years applying unsuccessfully for roles after a redundancy before finding part-time work. “I had the skills, but I kept getting told I mightn’t ‘fit the culture’ – which felt like code for being too old. It was soul-destroying.”
Experts advise that older Australians highlight what they bring to the workplace – experience, loyalty, broad networks and resilience. Upskilling in digital literacy can help counter stereotypes around technology. And importantly, challenging discriminatory questions during recruitment can send a strong signal that being overlooked purely on age is unlawful under Australian anti-discrimination law.
Medical gatekeeping
Healthcare is another space where ageism thrives. Many older Australians report that symptoms are dismissed with a line such as, “Well, you are getting older.” Advocacy groups argue this “ageist diagnosis” often misses treatable conditions.
Dr John Beard, former head of ageing and life course at the World Health Organization, notes that “older age is not a disease,” and that health conditions should never be waved away simply because of a birth date. Patients are encouraged to assertively request further investigation if they feel their concerns are brushed aside.
Speaking up socially
Everyday conversations also matter. Ageist jokes – “you’re having a senior moment,” or “aren’t you too old for that?” – are still common. While some dismiss them as banter, many older Australians say they find these remarks undermining.
Psychologist Roslyn Batchelor suggests having a few ready replies to defuse awkwardness. “Respond lightly but firmly,” she says. “For example: ‘I don’t think age has much to do with it, but thanks.’ It pushes back without escalating.”
Building intergenerational connections can also chip away at stereotypes. Mentoring younger colleagues, joining community groups with members of varied ages, or volunteering in schools allows older Australians to show – not tell – that ageing can involve growth, confidence and contribution.
A collective shift
Experts emphasise that changing the culture around ageing is not the job of individuals alone. Government, business and the media also play a role in how older Australians are portrayed. The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for more realistic and respectful media depictions of people later in life – beyond frailty or decline, highlighting instead the diversity of older lives.
At a policy level, organisations such as the Council on the Ageing and National Seniors Australia continue to lobby for stronger workplace protections, incentives for employers to hire mature workers, and education campaigns addressing stereotypes.
But grassroots action matters too. Everyday Australians can play a part by challenging the language used in families, friendships and workplaces. Researchers say such “micro acts of resistance” add up, slowly shifting social attitudes.
Standing visible
For Pauline, the ignored shopper, learning to assert herself has been empowering. “These days, if I feel overlooked, I’ll step up and say, ‘Excuse me, I am next.’ It sounds small, but it changes how I leave that interaction – I don’t shrink, I stand visible.”
It is this spirit of visibility, advocates say, that older Australians need most. With longevity reshaping society – more Australians are living well into their 80s and 90s than ever before – the challenge and the opportunity is clear: to ensure that later life is valued, not diminished.
As Fitzgerald put it: “Age is not a deficit. It is an asset. Our society must start treating it that way.”
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