Willing to Work Report Implementation
The right to work is a fundamental human right, but one that far too many older people in Australia do not enjoy.
Age Discrimination
Multigenerational workforces: a guide to the rights of older workers under the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth) (2019)
While older workers bring skills and knowledge to the workplace, age discrimination still presents a significant barrier to meaningful participation in the workforce. In 2016–17, 58% of age discrimination complaints received by the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) were related to work.
Willing to Work: National Inquiry into Employment Discrimination Against Older Australians and Australians with Disability (2016)
The right to work is a fundamental human right, but one that far too many older people and people with disability in Australia do not enjoy.
Ageism and COVID-19
As Age Discrimination Commissioner, I am always concerned when I see ageism in Australian society, whether as a direct driver of behaviour or as the indirect, unintended consequence of public discussions and policy implementation. Right now, we are seeing ever-present ageist ideas playing out in a number of ways and affecting different age cohorts as our society continues to grapple with COVID-19.
Older women facing homelessness on the rise
As we approach International Women’s Day on March 8, the Age Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Kay Patterson, has renewed calls for policy makers and leaders to prioritise housing security for older Australian women.
Older women are the fastest growing cohort of homeless people, with a 31% increase between 2011 and 2016.
Dr Patterson says International Women’s Day is a chance to celebrate what has been achieved and contemplate what more needs to be done.
New national guide on powers of attorney
Australia’s Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson earlier this month launched a national guide to making enduring powers of attorney for financial decisions.
You Decide Who Decides, funded by the Australian government, sponsored by the Australian Guardianship and Administration Council and developed by the Victorian Public Advocate, is a national resource which identifies differences between the law across the country.
Children’s Commissioner to Launch Final Report
Australia’s first Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell will on Monday launch her final report – one of the most comprehensive assessments of children’s rights ever produced in Australia.
The report makes clear that the mental health of Australian children is not being cared for sufficiently and that Governments must do more to ensure children’s wellbeing.
Calls for urgent action on elder abuse
Governments across the country will tomorrow be called on to work together and take immediate action to combat elder abuse at the Council of Attorneys-General meeting in Adelaide.
Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson wants the Council to outline its plan and to include nationwide standards for powers of attorney to ensure that they are not mis-used.
“Elder abuse is a blight on our society. Older Australians do not have time on their side, they need immediate action from Governments at state and federal levels,” said Dr Patterson.
Attorneys-General Need to Act on Elder Abuse
Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson is calling on the Council of Attorneys-General to agree to take immediate action on elder abuse at their meeting tomorrow to develop a timetable outlining its action plan.
“Elder abuse is a blight on our society. Older Australians do not have time on their side, they need immediate action from Governments at state and federal levels,” said Dr Patterson.
Commissioner Patterson is calling for powers of attorney to be standardised across the country to help ensure that they are not mis-used.
