UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 54TH SESSION
Third Committee - Item 106: Social Development (Follow-up to IYOOP)
Statement by the Hon Geoff Prosser MP,
Parliamentary Adviser to the Australian Delegation
5 October 1999
Mr President,
Australia has been a strong supporter of the International Year Of Older Persons. We have warmly embraced the concept within Australia, and in so doing have been proud to contribute to international efforts to promote the objectives of the year, as encapsulated in the United Nations Principles of Older Persons, and covering the key areas of independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity.
Australia believes that older persons have a crucial role to play in the development of society. They should be viewed as active participants of the global community who have an important contribution to make to the community, rather than persons who are dependent on society for care and respite.
Recognition of the legitimate and valuable role of older people in society is increasingly important as the average age of the older population increases. As recent statistics show, the average age of life expectancy is on the increase. On a global scale, more than one in ten persons are now over the age of sixty. This ratio will increase further in the coming years.
In Australia too, the age of our population is increasing. In the next twenty years the number of people in Australia aged 80 years and over is expected to grow by 63 per cent from just under 500,000 people in 1996 to about 850,000, or one in four, by 2016.
The Australian Government recognises the important and valuable contribution older persons make to our society at the political, community and family levels.
Within Australia we have considered the International Year of Older persons as an important opportunity to promote a nation-wide approach to issues of ageing, to celebrate the diversity and richness of our older population, and to acknowledge their ongoing contribution to society. In Australia, as in other countries, the International Year has also provided the opportunity and the impetus to work actively to change the way Australians perceive older people and ageing. We all know that shifting attitudes is a fundamental factor in bringing about real change
in society.
Mr President,
Australia has taken its commitment to the International Year of Older Persons seriously.
We commenced our preparations early. During 1998 extensive community consultations
were undertaken with older people in a variety of locations across Australia to ensure that
the Government's policy framework for the year reflected the key issues of importance to
these people.
Ten major themes emerged from these community consultations. These ranged from health
and wellbeing, to employment and education. These provided the basis for the Federal Government's priorities and projects during 1999. The ten themes were incorporated into the Terms of Reference for the Government's key policy response to the International Year - a National Strategy for an Ageing Australia.
Mr President,
I am pleased to report that under the management of the Minister For Aged Care, the Hon. Bronwyn Bishop MP, the National Strategy for an Ageing Australia has formed the basis for the development of a series of practical and innovative initiatives and activities which have been designed to promote, recognise and encourage the role of older people in our society.
Mr President,
Major national initiatives have included a national "Active Australia" media campaign which promotes the benefits of activity for older Australians; a national information program to inform older Australians about new technology associated with electronic banking; and a project developed by the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business to assist and promote mature age Jobseekers.
In the field of education, funding has been provided for national programs such as the International Year of Older Persons Learning Circles Project which is aimed at developing a program in each state and territory to offer older Australians the opportunity to take part in small informal discussions and learning groups on a variety of topics.
In what we believe may be the first award of its kind worldwide, Australia has designed a national Recognition Award for Senior Australians and a national Government Senior Australian Of The Year Award. These awards recognise the invaluable contribution of senior Australians to the community.
The Government Senior Australian of the Year was announced by the Prime Minister on 30 September 1999 on the eve of the International Day Of Older Persons. The recipient of the award, Slim Dusty, is a well known Australian country music singer who relates to all generations of Australians and has been recording country music hits for over 50 years. At 72 years of age, he ignores retirement and continues to do what he loves - performing, travelling and recording music to share with others. However, more importantly, Slim Dusty is also known for his philanthropic activities which involve visiting the sick, playing at concerts for those less fortunate and working with the Australian Heart Foundation.
Under the Recognition Awards Program initiative, the community has been encouraged to nominate for an award senior Australians who are outstanding role models in the local community. In each electorate, up to 20 senior Australians who have made a significant contribution to their local community will be selected to receive Recognition Awards. The most outstanding award winner from each electorate will be invited to attend a number of special celebratory events in mid-November 1999, in Australia's capital city, Canberra.
As part of a comprehensive communication strategy, the Minister for Aged Care recently released a kit which provided a range of information to communities at the local level about the International Year of Older Persons, and about the implementation of associated activities. A national International Year of Older Persons newsletter and website have also been developed. The Royal Australian Mint has officially launched a six coin collector set with an International Year of Older Persons one dollar coin. Australia Post has released two 45 cent stamps to commemorate the year.
In the health field a Healthy Ageing Task Force has developed a coordinated nation-wide approach to healthy ageing and the International Year Of Older Persons. The Task Force includes representatives from the Federal (national), State and Territory Governments of Australia. It has produced a draft National Health Ageing Strategy aimed at identifying challenges for government, business, the community and individuals to meet the needs of Australians as they age.
Complementing these initiatives, the Australian Government has worked to encourage widespread community involvement in the International Year of Older Persons. Within an overall budget of close to A $11 million Australian allocated for International Year of Older Persons activities, the Government has provided $A 560,000 to establish Australia Coalition '99, a national network of more than 1100 non-government organisations drawn from, or focussed on, the ageing population.
Australia Coalition '99 has provided an important framework to promote and coordinate activities and events for the International Year of Older Persons in the community. The Coalition has proved to be a dynamic force behind Australian initiatives to promote the International Year. It has also laid a firm foundation within the community for the long-term promotion of the objectives of the International Year of Older Persons.
Mr President,
Australia has a deep commitment to work actively to develop an integrated society in which older people are not discriminated against because of their age. It is important that we continue to recognise that the wisdom and contribution of the older Australian is the foundation and strength of our society. The activities and initiatives I have described in connection with the International Year Of Older Persons have provided a firm basis for bringing about a real change in Australian perceptions of older persons. We recognise that this is an ongoing process and that it is up to both the Government and the community to maintain the momentum.
At the global level, as in Australia, it is important also to ensure that the momentum for change does not cease when the year draws to a close on 31 December 1999.
To this end we support the holding of a global meeting in the year 2002 to review the
outcome of the first World Assembly on Ageing. Australia expects to be able to report on the implementation of its National Strategy for an Ageing Australia at that global meeting.
Thank you, Mr President.