Inquiry into opportunities for participation of Victorian seniors

International thinking regarding longevity and the life course has informed new policy directions relating to participation and seniors. It involves thinking about seniors in new and different ways, and challenging perceptions of how people participate in society in later life. The Committee considered what it means for older people to participate in the Victorian community and its economy. The Committee's terms of reference were to: review national and international literature on preparing for an ageing society; consult with older Victorians and representative bodies and with Victorians planning for ageing well; examine the contribution of, and challenges facing, older members of the Victorian community from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds; identify the role of government in supporting older Victorians and the intersection of federal, state and local government service provision and their responsibility to seniors; consider the economic significance of older Victorians in the paid workforce and the voluntary sector and barriers to participation for those Victorian seniors who desire to work in or contribute to the community, and how willing economic and social contributions can be fostered; consider ageing well in terms of quality of life and community participation, including the specific and different issues faced by men and women, older Victorians from different age cohorts, and those living in rural and regional areas; examine the role and interrelationship of active, successful, positive and productive ageing approaches in promoting better health; and develop recommendations or strategies for whole of government and community responses to the needs of older Victorians now, and into the future, and incorporate in the recommendations the best international practice in support of ageing well. Show less