Valuing the contribution of the older members of our community

1 October 2020

Older people account for around 15 per cent of Victoria’s population, and they make an invaluable contribution to our community through unpaid care, as workers and volunteers, and as active members of community.

“We should never think that age is a use-by date,” says Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Kristen Hilton. “The older members of our community contribute enormously to our everyday lives – not just their wisdom and experience, but also through their work, their role within the families, and the friendship and support they provide to other older people in the community.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed existing inequalities that impact many Victorians – including the particular challenges faced by older people. Early on, media reporting focused heavily on the vulnerability of older people to COVID-19, especially those with chronic conditions. While much of this messaging was well-intentioned, coverage of the escalating aged care crisis risked dehumanising older people and depicting them as fragile or helpless.

“I think a lot of older people did take on the message that they were extremely vulnerable, and many of them retreated into their shells, emotionally and physically,” says Sue Hendy, Director of the International Federation on Ageing. “The problem is really broader than just COVID-19 – it’s that we so often link capacity and age. That kind of narrative undermines your sense of capacity; it eats at your sense of self-worth.”

At the Commission, we know that poor treatment of older people is not isolated to the pandemic. In 2019–20, age discrimination was the fifth most common issue we heard about in enquiries. We received 74 complaints about age discrimination during this period. Almost half of these related to employment, and just over a third related to provision of goods and services.

“No one should be demeaned or treated differently because of their age,” says Commissioner Hilton. “I encourage any person who experiences age discrimination to contact our Enquiry Line on 1300 292 153 – we can help you understand your rights and how you can make a complaint if you wish to.”

As Victoria enters the next phase of the pandemic, we’ve started thinking about the COVID-19 recovery. Before us lies an opportunity to listen to the experiences of older people and ensure their voices shape the decisions that affect them.

This year, the International Day of Older Persons also marks the beginning UN’s Decade of Healthy Ageing. It’s intended to spur collective action by government, civil society and the community to improve the lives of older people.

So today, on International Day of Older Persons, let’s recognise the important role of older Victorians in our lives. “We need to think about enabling and recognising older people’s participation in the community, what we can do to support older people to do the things they can and want to do without applying stereotypes that might limit them,” Ms Hendy says.

Media contact

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Phone: 1300 292 153
Email: enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au
Post: PO Box 18011, Melbourne VIC 3000

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