Senator Fifield: How the government is supporting baby boomers in the workforce…

You asked Senator Fifield, “Most of us have worked since we were 17 and for a lot, even younger. To make us work for longer is insulting. We have helped Australia to build its industries and become a strong economy. Why do we need to increase the pension age? If you do increase it, how are you going to help seniors find jobs? Employers don’t often want to have over 50s or 60s working for them but the government wants us to work until we’re 70. What is the government going to do to support employers and give them incentives to employ older workers?” 

And Senator Fifield answered…

For quite some time now we’ve known that Australia faces some demographic challenges. That’s why, when he was Treasurer, Peter Costello commissioned the first inter-generational report to alert people to the fact that as time goes by we will have fewer and fewer people in the workforce.

But make no mistake, the Government is committed to ensuring the aged pension will remain an important safety net for older Australians to provide income support to those who need it.

We are also committed to promoting opportunities for positive and healthy ageing, and supporting senior Australians to continue participating in the workforce for as long as they are willing and able to do so.

But we recognise that shifting attitudes and expectations amongst employers and the labour force are critical in meeting the challenges of an ageing population.

The Government has committed to a number of programmes that help unemployed Australians, including mature workers, enter or re-enter the workforce. The Department of Employment’s Experience+ programmes for mature workers include:

–        The Seniors Employment Incentive Payment, which will commence from 1 July 2014 and delivers on our election commitment to help mature jobseekers and their employers. An employer will be eligible for a Seniors Employment Incentive Payment of up to $3250 if they hire a mature job seeker (aged over 50) who has been unemployed, registered with Centrelink and receiving income support for six months or more. Once the person has been employed continuously for six months, the employer will receive the payment in instalments over the following six months. More information will be made available on the Department of Employment’s website www.employment.gov.au.

–        The Corporate Champions programme, which aims to attract employers who make a public commitment to move toward better practice in employing mature people. Employers receive a tailored package of assistance from an industry expert which includes practical help in updating recruitment processes; rolling out flexible working arrangements and implementing retention and mentoring programmes. To date there are over 200 employers who have signed up to be an Experience+ Corporate Champion.

–        The Career Advice service, which is a free service available to any Australian who is over 45 years of age. A Career Adviser can work with mature job seekers to identify employment opportunities that draw on their skills and experience. They will also be able to suggest strategies for marketing skills and experience to potential employers. Career Advice is a telephone and email based service so mature job seekers can speak to a Career Adviser in the comfort of their own home. An appointment can be made by phoning 13 1764.