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Age Discrimination

Young, old and everyone in between – Australians of all ages have the right to be treated fairly and to enjoy the same opportunities as others.

Meet the Commissioner

The Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO

Dr Patterson began her role as the Age Discrimination Commissioner on 29th July, 2016. She has demonstrated a strong interest in issues affecting older people throughout her professional life.  Leaving school at 15 and then managing a small business, she returned to school and gained a BA (Hons) at the University of Sydney and a PhD in Psychology and Dip Ed at Monash University. 

She taught allied health science students for 11 years.  She studied gerontology at two universities in the USA and used the knowledge gained during those visits to co-develop the first Victorian post-graduate diploma in gerontology and to introduce gerontology into the undergraduate behavioural science courses.

Latest News

Age Discrimination

Ageism keeping older people out of the workforce

Ageism is blocking older people from the workforce, findings from a survey of HR professionals about attitudes to older workers show. A partnership between the Australian HR Institute and the Australian Human Rights Commission, the 2023 Employing and Retaining Older Workers Survey found one in six...

Category, News
Age Discrimination

State AG inaction enables power-of-attorney parasites: Commissioner

Australia’s Age Discrimination Commissioner says thousands of older Australians are being robbed and cheated out of millions of dollars every year because of a dysfunctional enduring power-of-attorney (EPOA) framework. The Commissioner is calling on state and territory Attorneys-General to commit to...

Category, News

Top Projects

Elderly lady looking out a window
Age Discrimination

Elder abuse

Elder abuse can take various forms, including: financial, physical, psychological, emotional and sexual abuse, or neglect. No older person should be subjected to any form of abuse.

Tags Age Discrimination