Page 1519 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 4 May 2016
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Another significant initiative is the upcoming seniors health roundtable on Wednesday, 11 May 2016, which has been organised by the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing. The roundtable is the result of feedback from seniors at the older persons assembly in 2015 that additional time is required to discuss health-related issues specific to ACT seniors and is also a key action to be addressed in the framework.
The strength of the roundtable process will hopefully enable us to effectively tap into the wide range of opinions and ideas that exist amongst the delegates who have been invited to attend, to find common ground and to forge a consensus within the diversity of topics, views and ideas. I look forward to the collation of expert submissions that will be fed into a consolidated report containing qualitative recommendations regarding health provisions for veterans and seniors that will be provided to me by the end of June 2016.
The ACT government is also committed to funding important community initiatives for Canberra seniors and continues to work in collaboration with community organisations such as the Council on the Ageing ACT through the provision of funding to support them in delivering the events and activities that are incorporated into the seniors week program, the ACT seniors card program and their membership databases. These initiatives provide an opportunity for local seniors to be recognised and assist them to continue to access services and remain active in our community.
The annual Life’s Reflections photographic competition and exhibition continues to promote positive community awareness of older people, the importance of older people maintaining healthy and active lifestyles, the importance and value of intergenerational relationships, and the emerging awareness of Canberra as an age-friendly city. The competition, which is now in its 13th year, has maintained a significant profile within the ACT community, attracting over 1,200 individual photographers of all ages to enter the competition since its inception.
Another significant point with regard to Canberra’s ageing population is that people in this age bracket have relatively low labour force participation rates. It is for this reason that my predecessor, Minister Gentleman, tabled in the chamber last year the ACT mature workforce strategy statement of intent. This was developed by the ACT government in collaboration with the Illawarra Retirement Trust Foundation and the Australian Human Rights Commission.
The benefits for older Canberrans of enjoying a long and active life and a better standard of health than ever before will influence their decision to remain in the workforce for a longer period of time, well after they reach the current traditional retirement age. The continuity of employment in their lives as mature age workers can foster new levels of pride and self-worth to an individual and develop a valuable flow-on effect, with the productive output of mature age workers contributing to the economic prosperity of Canberra and of course Australia as a whole.
This government recognises that older Canberrans may wish at some point to transition from paid work to other productive activity, such as supporting their
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