Department of Premier and Cabinet



Future Directions:Seniors’ Policy for TasmaniaConsultation PaperSeniors Bureau, Community Development Division, Department of Premier and Cabinet June 2011-45720031305513/452710013/4527142291006515100Tasmanian GovernmentGPO Box 123, HOBART TAS 700100Tasmanian GovernmentGPO Box 123, HOBART TAS 7001Table of contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \t "Header,1,Forward styel,1" Foreword PAGEREF _Toc297537017 \h 21Introduction PAGEREF _Toc297537018 \h 32Purpose of the Consultation Paper PAGEREF _Toc297537019 \h 43The Future Directions Working Group PAGEREF _Toc297537020 \h 54Context for seniors’ policy development PAGEREF _Toc297537021 \h 64.1An ageing population PAGEREF _Toc297537022 \h 64.2Demographic Change Advisory Council PAGEREF _Toc297537023 \h 74.3Social inclusion PAGEREF _Toc297537024 \h 84.4Generational change PAGEREF _Toc297537025 \h 94.5Demographic profile of older Tasmanians PAGEREF _Toc297537026 \h 104.6State Government actions that support the ongoing participation of older Tasmanians in their communities PAGEREF _Toc297537027 \h 115Focus areas and possible actions PAGEREF _Toc297537028 \h 135.1Access to the basics PAGEREF _Toc297537029 \h 145.2Access to information PAGEREF _Toc297537030 \h 155.3Literacy and numeracy PAGEREF _Toc297537031 \h 165.4Land use and social planning PAGEREF _Toc297537032 \h 175.5Recognising diversity PAGEREF _Toc297537033 \h 195.6Social isolation PAGEREF _Toc297537034 \h 205.7Volunteerism into the future PAGEREF _Toc297537035 \h 225.8Workforce participation PAGEREF _Toc297537036 \h 236Submitting your feedback PAGEREF _Toc297537037 \h 257Bibliography PAGEREF _Toc297537038 \h 268Attachment 1 PAGEREF _Toc297537039 \h 30Foreword 02095500The development of a new policy for older Tasmanians is essential to support the Government’s vision for a more socially inclusive society. For more than ten years, the Tasmanian Plan for Positive Ageing, with its focus on health and wellbeing, has been guiding our policy in this area. I believe that during this time there have been significant achievements which have benefited older Tasmanians, and the Government is committed to building on these accomplishments through progressing this new policy direction. Tasmania’s population is ageing and we must place a greater focus on increasing community participation by our older members. With this in mind, the Tasmanian Government will develop a three-year plan which outlines policy priorities and accompanying actions over that period. This will be done with the support and guidance of the Future Directions Working Group. I would like to thank the members of the Working Group for their hard work and commitment to the development of this Consultation Paper; their expertise has been invaluable. I invite you to take the time to read this Consultation Paper, participate in discussions and provide feedback.I am confident that the three-year plan that results from this work will provide more targeted policy and improved outcomes for older Tasmanians. Hon Cassy O’Connor MPMinister for Community DevelopmentIntroduction As Tasmanians age, they want to remain physically active, socially connected and independent. The Tasmanian Government’s strategies and policies must be responsive to these needs, while also embracing new opportunities provided by such a large and diverse population group.Tasmania’s population is the oldest of all states and territories, and is also ageing at the fastest rate. By 2012, Tasmania will have the largest share of people aged 65 years and over. This situation provides an opportunity for the Government to position itself as a leader in responding to the needs of an ageing population and its impact on the broader population.This Consultation Paper, Future Direction: Seniors’ Policy for Tasmania, examines many of the issues surrounding Tasmania’s ageing population. It looks at Tasmania’s demographic profile, the principle of social inclusion and existing policy and support services for older Tasmanians. A range of focus areas has been identified from which future policy can be developed to support older Tasmanians and provide opportunities for them to remain active, maintain their independence and have their rights respected. The eight focus areas are:access to the basics;access to information;literacy and numeracy;land use and social planning;recognising diversity;social isolation;volunteerism into the future; andworkforce participation.For each of the focus areas, the paper proposes a set of possible actions and a set of questions. Attachment 1 lists these possible actions and questions as a separate document for completion if required. Government and non-government organisations, community groups and individual community members with an interest in issues relating to older Tasmanians, are strongly encouraged to provide feedback. Comments are required by 12 August 2011. See page 25 for further details on submissions.The information received from the consultation process will be used to inform the development of a three-year plan. The plan will detail the priorities and actions that the Tasmanian Government will commit to over the course of the three year period of 2012-14. The plan will be completed by the end of 2011 in time for implementation at the beginning of 2012. Purpose of the Consultation PaperThe Future Directions: Seniors’ Policy for Tasmania forms part of the overarching response of the Tasmanian Government to creating a stronger and fairer Tasmania in the context of an ageing population. The Consultation Paper provides information and possible actions in a range of focus areas as they relate to older Tasmanians, and seeks feedback to assist in determining Government priorities over the next three years. The purpose of the Consultation Paper is to:promote discussion about the issues that have an impact on older Tasmanians now and in the future;identify priorities for Government in policy development over a three-year period, to improve the lives of older Tasmanians; andfocus on policy that is likely to help address future challenges of a rapidly ageing population.In preparing the Consultation Paper, relevant feedback from the Tasmania Together 2010 review has been included, as more than 70 per cent of participants at the community forums were in the 50 years and over bracket. In addition, Council on the Ageing [COTA (Tas)], the peak body for older Tasmanians, conducted community consultations for the Tasmania Together review and this feedback has also been considered. For further details on providing feedback, please see page 25 of this consultation paper.The Future Directions Working GroupThe Future Directions Working Group has been established to advise the Government on the development of a plan that will determine State Government priorities over the next three years for policy development relating to older Tasmanians. The Working Group is expected to complete its task by the end of 2011. The Working Group consists of the following representatives:Director Community Development (DPAC) (Chair) – Nick EvansSeniors Bureau (DPAC) – Heather Cuthbertson and Margaret KellySocial Inclusion Unit (DPAC) – Bridget HuttonLocal Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) – Katrena StephensonUniversity of Tasmania (UTAS) – Anthea VreugdenhilCOTA (Tas) – Maxine GriffithsPositive Ageing Advisor – Sally Walker. The Working Group has provided advice on the development of the Consultation Paper and also on the most effective methods of gaining feedback on the paper through community consultation. It will continue to provide advice and oversee progress on the development of the plan, informed by the outcomes of the consultation.Context for seniors’ policy development Older people make a significant contribution to many aspects of our community prosperity, cultural richness and well-being. They provide a wealth of valuable experience, knowledge and skills. They contribute through employment, caring, and volunteering. They provide invaluable advice through participation in social and cultural life and as custodians of our history. (Benevolent Society 2009, p. 1)The “older Tasmanians” population group is highly diverse. This group covers a broad age span, and each person’s ageing is influenced and affected by many factors, including, but not limited to, socio-economic circumstances, level of education, cultural and linguistic diversity, gender, life experience and sexuality.All older people should have the opportunity to live healthy, active, independent lives, engaged with and continuing to contribute to their communities. An ageing populationDemographic change describes changes in a human population over time which may affect it in the future. These changes may include the size, growth and distribution of a population in response to birth, migration, ageing and death. Factors such as the post-war high birth rates from 1945 to 1965, sustained low fertility rates, and long-term trends of increasing life expectancy have resulted in Australia’s rapidly ageing population. Australia’s population projections provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) see the proportion of people aged 65?years and over increasing from 13?per?cent in 2007 to 18?per?cent by 2020, and increasing to between 23?and?25?per?cent by 2056.Within this group, the number of people aged 85?years and over is growing rapidly. In 2007, people aged over 85 made up 1.6?per?cent of the population, but by 2056 that proportion is expected to increase to between 4.9?per?cent and 7.3?per?cent (ABS, 2008a).In combination with the numbers of younger people leaving the State and older people migrating from interstate, this means that Tasmania’s population is ageing faster than other states and territories. According to the latest ABS data, at 30?June?2010 Tasmania had the highest median age in the nation, at 39.9?years of age compared with the general Australian population at 36.9?years (ABS, 2010a).Based on 2009 ABS data, 15.3?per?cent of the Tasmanian population are aged 65?years and over. By 2012, Tasmania will have the largest share of all Australian states and territories, of people aged 65?years and over. By 2057, around 30?per?cent of the Tasmanian population will be aged 65 and over, which is a substantial increase from the 8?per?cent of the early 1970s. The rate of ageing is expected to peak between now and 2021 as the Baby Boomer generation (born from 1946 to1965) enters the 65?years and over age group.While the ABS data tends to classify “older people” as 65?years of age or older, the Seniors Bureau uses 60?years and over as its target population, based on the Seniors Card age criterion. As at 3?June 2010, the ABS estimated resident population of Tasmanians aged 60?years and over was 111?217, which equates to nearly 22?per?cent of Tasmania’s population.Because of its rapidly ageing population, Tasmania is encountering many of the effects of demographic change before other states and territories. An ageing population places significant pressure on spending by both the Australian and State Governments, particularly in the areas of health, age-related pensions and aged care. The sooner the effects of demographic change are better understood, the more prepared we will be to take advantage of opportunities and to meet the challenges. Population ageing affects the whole population. Its impacts are already being experienced and will continue for many decades to come. Greater life expectancy is good reason for celebration as is the contribution that older people will continue to make to the community.Demographic Change Advisory CouncilIn the 2006-07 Budget, the Tasmanian Government established the Demographic Change Advisory Council (DCAC), bringing together all sectors of the community to plan for Tasmania’s future demographic change. In October 2007, after consulting with the Tasmanian community, DCAC released an issues paper, Demographic Change in Tasmania: challenges and opportunities, which provided a comprehensive account of the major challenges and opportunities surrounding population ageing in this State. The key challenges identified in the issues paper associated with ageing were: enabling older Tasmanians to remain engaged and included in society;increasing the financial independence of older Tasmanians; andpromoting volunteering in areas that assist older Tasmanians maintain an independent lifestyle.Benefits and opportunities were also identified and included:increased demand for industries providing services for older people;increased number of experienced people available as mentors and advisors;more potential volunteers; andinitiatives and innovations in Tasmania, as the first state to experience acceleration in population ageing.In May 2008, DCAC released Demographic Change in Tasmania: Strategies for addressing challenges and opportunities. This paper identified key initiatives that Tasmania could introduce to address the challenges of demographic change, now and into the future. Maintaining independent living for older Tasmanians was one of the strategies proposed, and specifically recognised the desire of older Tasmanians to age in their own communities. The strategies were identified to respond to older Tasmanians’ changing requirements in relation to health care, mobility, finances, home and community. In addition, the paper proposed a range of ideas to support the ongoing engagement of older Tasmanians as part of the whole community. Social inclusion“Social inclusion means a fair go at having a decent education, skills, meaningful work, access to services, good relationships and a say on what matters to us. It’s about the relationships in life that make us healthy, happy and productive.” (Adams 2009, p.?8)Approximately 13 per cent of Tasmanians face ongoing and complex barriers that result in them not having a ’fair go’. Among the groups most likely to be affected are older people living alone and living in outer fringe cities and towns, rural areas and older industrial areas (Adams 2009).The barriers include health factors and homelessness, access to transport and health services, intergenerational poverty and living in disadvantaged areas. The effects are felt not only at a personal level but also have broader social, economic, environmental and civic impacts.In 2009, Professor David Adams, Tasmania’s Social Inclusion Commissioner, released A Social Inclusion Strategy for Tasmania, which summarised research and evidence relevant to social inclusion in Tasmania and outlines how those barriers can be tackled. The report focuses on the areas of common cause and the common strategies that can be leveraged to benefit the whole community, rather than focusing on specific population groups, issues and places. The report sets out 10?strategies for action. The strategies and associated proposed actions are about getting the basics right, early intervention and prevention, and structural change.The report suggests an approach that:recognises the importance of shifting from a deficit to an assets model for people and places; promotes enterprise solutions to build capacity and sustainability for individuals, groups and places; devolves responsibility locally as much as possible through a focus on place management; supports families in communities to have greater choice and responsibility over their futures; and changes the way government works (Adams 2009, p. 6).The report provides a context in which the issues and challenges facing older Tasmanians can be addressed to ensure that they are empowered to participate in and contribute to their communities. Older people’s wellbeing is influenced by advantages and disadvantages accumulated over a lifetime. These influences shape their sensitivity and their resilience to crises. The following factors contribute to positive ageing and social inclusion:adequate income and material assets;appropriate and affordable housing;access to good quality health services;access to support and care according to need;access to transport;an age-friendly built environment;community attitudes of respect and acceptance;community connection and social networks;feeling safe; andopportunities to participate in all aspects of community life.Generational change Although there is no widespread agreement about names and definitions of generations, a “generation” tends to cover approximately 20?years. The generation born between 1926 and 1945 was born during the Great Depression and World War ll and is referred to in a number of ways, including the Silent Generation, the Traditionalists, the Lucky Generation and also the Builder Generation. While the majority of this generation are now retired from the workforce they believed in earning their way through hard work. They tended to be loyal to their country and employer, respected authority and, as a whole, are less technologically adept than younger generations.As noted earlier, the 20 year period following World War ll, from 1946 to 1965, is generally known as the Baby Boom when there were 4.2?million births in Australia. While other periods are occasionally quoted when referring to the post-World War II baby boom, the ABS endorses 1946 to 1965 as the definitive Baby Boomer birth years and acknowledges that the boom in Australia lasted longer than was the case in some other countries (ABS 2003). Baby Boomers were in their teens and early twenties in the 1960s and 70s. This was a period of major social and economic change which influenced the views, expectations, and aspirations of baby boomers. This has resulted in them being a very different generation from previous ones. They are opinionated, articulate, flexible, young at heart and have been able to access better education. The Baby Boomer generation like to travel and are avid consumers whose spending habits and lifestyles have an influential effect on the economy. In 2006, the first of the Baby Boomers turned 60?years of age and for the next 14?years, until 2025, there will be a continuing influx until all of this generation reaches 60 years of age. A generational change is occurring as the first of the Baby Boomers become “older people” and their parents, now over 80?years of age, become the “older old” or “very old”. Between 2031 and 2051, the Baby Boomers are projected to swell the population aged 85?years and over. Critically for government, Baby Boomers are inevitably going to place increasingly higher demands on services. This has prompted the Tasmanian?Government to scrutinise, from a policy perspective, how it delivers outcomes for stakeholders. There has been a history of government consulting on issues relating to older people, however, this generation tends to be more cynical about government consultation processes. Their cynicism centres on the belief that there is too much consultation and too little action.Demographic profile of older Tasmanians A demographic profile is a statistical view of a population of a particular place and generally includes information about age, gender, income and education.Demographic profiling has the potential to provide detailed information about various aspects of the population. For example, it can assist in identifying where people with a number of similar characteristics live, such as those people who are 60 years of age or older, living alone in a rural area, unemployed long-term, and without a computer. This information can be used to inform policy to assist in decisions relating to allocation of resources and services. Creating a demographic profile of older Tasmanians will build an evidence base on population ageing and postcode-identified places of disadvantage. A demographic profile will assist the Government in understanding and identifying areas of need, especially for those older people experiencing many forms of disadvantage, and those places with larger numbers of people facing significant cost living pressures. It is proposed to develop a demographic profile of older Tasmanians to identify the percentage of the Tasmanian population that is 60?years of age or over who are at risk of social exclusion.Finding out the number of older Tasmanians affected by specific and overlapping risk factors will enable more targeted and effective policy development. “Older age can compound other aspects of disadvantage, with particular vulnerability linked to low income, inadequate housing, poor physical and or mental health, disability and social isolation.” (Benevolent Society 2009, p. 1)State Government actions that support the ongoing participation of older Tasmanians in their communitiesThe Tasmanian Government has a range of policies, programs and services in place across different agencies that support older Tasmanians in maintaining their connections to their community. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) offers a range of community care services aimed at helping frail aged people to live independently in their own home, in their own local community, close to friends and family and to enjoy quality of life for as long as possible. Programs and services are available to assist people who need personal care, domestic assistance and high-level care, as well as extended care to assist people experiencing behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia. In addition, there is also capacity for carers and care recipients to have greater control over the design and delivery of care and services older people receive.DHHS’ Housing Tasmania makes a major contribution to the housing of lower income older Tasmanians, with tenants in approximately 30?per?cent of public housing households aged 64 years or older. In recent years, the aim has been for new dwellings to be designed to be age-friendly, in accordance with universal design principles. This means that homes are built to meet the needs of occupants regardless of age or ability and can be adapted to meet occupants’ changing needs. DHHS is also progressing a range of initiatives to address elder abuse prevention. The Government recognises that transport is a barrier to participation for many older Tasmanians. The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER) has responsibility for public transport in Tasmania. Issues about public transport options for all age groups are consistently highlighted in DIER’s community consultations and include frequency, convenience and price. To support improved bus services, the State Government allocated approximately $1?million in the 2010-11 Budget. Bus services on most regional bus corridors across Tasmania have been improved. DIER is also working with councils to provide high quality, accessible bus stops with shelter in major population centres across Tasmania. As was the norm of the day, many members of the silent generation, and to a lesser extent, the Baby Boomer generation, left the formal education system at very young ages on order to gain employment. To address low literacy and numeracy levels, the Department of Education has developed the Tasmanian Adult Literacy Action Plan 2010-2015 to provide support and programs for people to improve adult literacy in their workplace and in their community. The Community Knowledge Network and Skills Tasmania are jointly responsible for implementing the Plan. A statewide network of Learning and Information Network Centres (LINCs) aims to connect Tasmanians with library and information, community learning, literacy and other government services – where, when and how they need them. LINC Tasmania is developing a statewide communications strategy to raise community awareness around literacy and also provide adults with access to one-on-one literacy support services and skills development programs via a statewide network of literacy coordinators. The Department of Police and Emergency Management undertakes a range of strategies to support confident, friendly and safe communities that have benefits for older people. Tasmania Police provides support and information to older persons about safety and security by working collaboratively with seniors’ groups to increase community awareness of safety and security issues; visiting victims of crime over 65 years of age for reassurance and further advice; and distributing the older persons’ booklet Safe and Secure Living.The Seniors Bureau, in DPAC’s Community Development Division, works to deliver programs and policy with a focus on positive ageing. As well as administering the Seniors Card Program within Tasmania, the Seniors Bureau also promotes the benefits that our ageing population can have across all sectors of the community.Going forward, the Seniors Bureau will focus on policy priorities determined through this consultation process, by working with government and non-government agencies as well as community organisations. Focus areas and possible actionsThe Tasmanian Government has considered a broad range of research and relevant Government policy in consideration of focus areas and initiatives that will benefit older Tasmanians.From this, eight focus areas have been identified: access to the basics;access to information;literacy and numeracy;land use and social planning;recognising diversity;social isolation;volunteerism into the future; andworkforce participation.This is not a definitive list but does highlight a number of areas in which better outcomes for older Tasmanians may be achieved. The Tasmanian Government now needs to set priorities to address these focus areas.Feedback is invited on the eight focus areas, which are detailed on the following pages. For convenience, sets of possible actions and questions for each of the focus areas in the Consultation Paper are included as a separate document, (Attachment 1), at the end of the Consultation Paper. It is not intended that each list of actions is complete, but rather a set of possibilities to address issues raised. In addition, it may not be possible to achieve all of the actions listed.Respondents are asked to read through and consider all of the focus areas prior to completing Attachment 1.Respondents may also choose to submit their comments through an online survey. For further details on submitting responses, please see page 25 of this consultation paper.Access to the basics Access to the basics of life – food, shelter and security – is a right; these are the necessities of life, but a number of Tasmanians struggle to make ends meet and access these necessities. According to the Cost of Living in Tasmania: Interim Report (Adams 2011), the available data demonstrates that 34 per cent of Tasmanian households are reliant on government pensions and allowances. Tasmania faces significant challenges in meeting increases in the cost of living due to its high proportion of low income households. Adams proposes that the gap between incomes and cost of living is likely to continue into the future as a result of the ageing population and the increasing reliance on government benefits and allowances.Cost of living pressures vary in impact between population groups and places, and policy responses need to be sensitive to these differing circumstances.COTA Australia’s 2007 submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Cost of Living Pressures on Older Australians stated the older population has more single households and are more likely to rely on government benefits and allowances. A greater proportion of their income is spent on fuel, power, food, and household services when compared to those in higher income brackets. “The rate of cost increase for some goods and services accessed by those 65 years and over include:Housing costs up 47% (especially renters)Recreation up 29%Food and non-alcoholic beverages up 20%Transport up 18%Health practitioner fees up 44%Health insurance up 34%Domestic fuel and power up 32%.” (COTA Australia, 2007, p. 9)Gavin Dufty (2006) proposes that full-pensioners who rent their homes and rely on public transport to access many of the basic necessities are at significant risk of poverty.Access to informationRegardless of the variety of communication choices and the volume of information available today, older people need access to the right information at the right time. Information needs to be available in a range of formats and needs to be accessible, relevant and accurate. It is important that older people are informed about services available in their community and that the information is accessible for people of all abilities.According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide, the characteristics that contribute to an age-friendly city in relation to communication and information are:widespread distribution – community centres, neighbourhood houses, bulletin boards, libraries, shops, doctors’ surgeries; the right information at the right time – people want information to be easy-to-access, coordinated; will someone speak to me? – word of mouth is the preferred means of communication for older people – particularly critical for those who are visually impaired or not literate;age-friendly formats and design – the one most significant and widespread barrier to communicating with older people is the visual and auditory presentation of information;information technology: boon and bane – computers and the internet provide easy communication and access to information for some while for others, it creates a sense of exclusion; andpersonal and collective responsibility – whole community responsibility for removing barriers to communication and keeping up with new information.“… staying connected with events and people and getting timely, practical information to manage life and meet personal needs is vital for active ageing.” (WHO, 2007, p. 60)In the Tasmania Together 2010 review, one of the social considerations for the future was that participants want better communication between the Government and the public and conversations based on trust. During COTA (Tas) consultations for the Tasmania Together 2010 review in the Oatlands area, communication and access to information was raised as one of the top three issues affecting the community.Although there are 66 Online Access Centres across the State that provide public access to computers and the internet, issues of access to information are particularly relevant for the “older old”, as the internet is not necessarily their preferred means of communication.Literacy and numeracy“A high level of literacy is required in today's world, to meet the challenges of a technology and information-rich society. Greater demands than ever are being placed on our ability to understand, interpret and integrate the world around us.” (ABS, 2008b)According to ABS data, 47 per cent of adult Tasmanians are functionally illiterate. Data collected in the 2006 Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (ALLS), show that literacy competency the 65-74?year age group is the lowest in, indicating that older Tasmanians, particularly older females, are less likely to have the necessary skills to meet the complex demands of everyday life and work. This may be the result of older Tasmanians having lower levels of educational attainment, less access to work opportunities, and higher rates of disability (such as dementia).The survey collected and assessed information on the literacy skills of Australians aged 15-74 years across a range of literacy areas including prose literacy, document literacy and numeracy, which are defined as:Prose literacy – able to understand and use information from various kinds of stories, including those from books, newspapers, magazines and brochures.Document literacy – knowledge and skills required to locate and use information contained in various formats including job applications, payroll forms, transportation schedules, maps, tables and charts. Numeracy – knowledge and skills required to effectively manage and respond to the mathematical demands of a range of situations.According to ALLS, the literacy skills of Tasmanians aged 15-74 years were consistently assessed as being below the national average in all of the areas. Around half of Tasmanians were assessed as having adequate prose (51?per?cent) and document literacy skills (49 per cent). Less than half (44 per cent) of Tasmanians were assessed as having adequate numeracy skills to effectively manage and respond to the mathematical demands of diverse situations.The Tasmanian Adult Literacy Action Plan 2010-2015 sets out strategies and actions that the Government has committed to in its aim for young people and adults to have the literacy skills they need to fully participate in their family life, the community, learning and employment. The Action Plan recognises that in meeting the different needs of people wanting to improve their literacy skills, support must be provided in a range of settings. There is also recognition of the need to raise awareness of individuals, community and business of the benefits to be gained for the whole community by improving literacy at all stages in life.“A more educated, skilled and productive Tasmania would be better equipped to deal with cost of living pressures.” (Adams 2011, p. 2)Some older people report that there are barriers in accessing literacy support in ways that are more informal. They want to receive help with literacy related issues when they need it, for example, interpreting letters and completing forms. New literacy support services which could assist in addressing such barriers are now available through LINC Tasmania’s literacy services. Further promotion of these services has the potential to provide literacy support to a greater number of older Tasmanians.Concerns have been raised about government and non-government organisations needing to take responsibility for ensuring that information sent to older Tasmanians is written in plain language. The Action Plan promotes the use of plain language in written information produced by the State Government.While the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), including computers and the internet, can make communication more efficient and effective, it is not necessarily an effective or preferred means of communication for some older people. Land use and social planningSocial planning is about planning to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities. Social planning plays an important role in creating liveable, age and family-friendly communities and considers aspects such as housing, transport, parks and recreation.“The outside environment and public buildings have a major impact on the mobility, independence and quality of life of older people and affect their ability to ‘age in place’.” (WHO 2007, p. 12)Older people want to remain in their homes as they age, but their homes, streets, towns and cities need to be adapted for this to happen successfully.It is important that we plan for physical infrastructure to support the ageing of our population to allow mobility and access, which in turn, supports social connectedness. An integrated approach is necessary, requiring consideration of:the cost of building homes; the location of homes relative to transport, services, education, jobs; and capacity for local self-sufficiency.Since 1992, the United Nations has continued to promote the development of a “society for all ages”, thereby building communities in which everyone can participate. The WHO (2007) Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide, also details the characteristics of an age-friendly city in eight areas of city living. These areas are: outdoor spaces and buildings;transportation;housing;social participation;respect and social inclusion;civic participation and employment;communication and information; andcommunity and health services.The basis for these cities is that they are amenable and friendly to all ages and all abilities, with an emphasis on making things possible. Age-friendly public space supports safe physical access and a feeling of personal safety. For example, building design and subdivision layouts consider a number of aspects such as:materials used;pedestrian pathways and routes;mobility aids such as motorised personal transport, walking frames and canes;seating style and availability;bus stops and their placement;road infrastructure including crossing time at traffic lights; andlandscaping design including materials used and vegetation types and locations.Considering these aspects in planning for land use has the potential to enable Tasmanians to successfully remain in their own homes within their own community as they age.Tasmania Together 2010 community forum 2010 participants, in responding to the issues that Tasmania needs to consider in the next 10 years, nominated more effective policy and planning through more integrated regional planning and facilitation of community discussions about land use and management including social issues.Recognising diversityMany different communities make up our society, and within these groups are people with diverse experiences and needs. However, this diversity results in some people experiencing extra barriers. Anecdotally, some people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD), the Aboriginal community, people with disability, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community, report experiencing barriers to employment, community services, community participation etc. Some report issues are related to discrimination based on their diversity, while others experience issues in accessing support that is culturally or socially appropriate. As for all population groups, the experiences of older LGBTI people are not all the same, there are generational differences within this diverse group. The National LGBTI Health Alliance has identified that “those who grew up pre gay liberation have endured a lifetime of having been vilified as 'sinners' by the church, 'criminals' in law, and pathologised by medicine.” This has resulted in this group experiencing ageing differently from the baby boomer and younger cohorts who have lived openly as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or intersex for much of their adult lives. For many older LGBTI people, accessing support services brings a fear of being “outed” after a lifetime of avoiding disclosure. For some there is a fear of having to deny their sexuality or gender identity in order to avoid facing discrimination due to their vulnerability in ageing.The Ageing and Disability Coalition (2005) Policy on Ageing and Disability point out that significant advances in general health and medical treatments are resulting in larger numbers of people with disability living longer. The carers of people ageing with a disability, usually their parents, are also ageing and finding it increasingly difficult to continue in their role, as well as meeting their own age related community support requirements.The 2006 ABS Census data for Tasmania shows persons aged over 55 years of age identify with 120 different countries (including Australia) as their country of origin. Many of these migrants arrived in Tasmania as part of the post-war mass migration. Large numbers of these migrants are now elderly and have children, grandchildren etc., that have been born in Australia. The needs for ageing populations from CALD backgrounds may differ to those of others due to their cultural and linguistic diversity. While it is generally understood that some people from CALD communities revert to their first language and food styles etc, little is understood about what ageing means for many culturally diverse communities. Often this understanding can be lost from both within their communities and the broader community. The Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (2009) in their research into the ethnic baby boomers, identified that a significant number of migrant parents and grandparents are feeling disempowered. They feel the cultural expectations in ageing are contradicted or seemingly disregarded, by younger generations in their own families.For many cultures, ageing also represents an elevated level of respect and value, however this elevation to “elder” or “senior” status is often not understood or appreciated in the context of the broader Australian society. Some members of these diverse communities want support options that are sensitive to their needs, and a greater understanding of what ageing means for them. There have been calls from some segments of these communities for specific community based support options targeting their community members. It would appear that this is in light of their feelings of disengagement from mainstream services and feeling vulnerable due to lack of understanding and tolerance.While all the above groups are diverse within and of themselves, there is a need to raise community awareness of the barriers they face and to develop a better understanding of what it is that these communities require.Social isolation“People who are connected to each other and to their communities are much more resilient in the face of other factors that generally cause exclusion.” (Adams 2009, p. 43)Adams’ (2009) notes a number of groups within the community who are at greater risk of being socially isolated, including older people living alone.The UTAS Growing Older and Keeping Healthy in Rural Tasmania newsletter, notes that research has shown that “social relationships and connections with friends, family and a community are very important to help people stay healthy and happy whilst getting older.” (UTAS, 2010, p. 1)In addition, it states that the programs that work best to reduce social isolation of older people have the following things in common:community based and build on community strengths;designed by older people themselves; andbased on developing real relationships and trust.Participants responding to the Tasmania Together 2010 review expressed a desire for future consideration of increased support for older people and less isolation. Older age can compound other aspects of disadvantage, with particular vulnerability linked to low income, inadequate housing, poor physical and or mental health, disability and social isolation.Mobility and independence are critical to the wellbeing of older people to enable continued interaction with family, friends and connection to their community. To enable this, transport alternatives are important, including both public transport and use of private vehicles.Many older people want to continue to drive for as long as possible to enable flexible and independent participation in life. There are, however, issues around safety and mandatory driving assessments for older Tasmanians that have an impact not only on their mobility but on their quality of life. The Monash University Accident Research Centre has undertaken extensive research in relation to older drivers, crash risks and mandatory driving assessments. “Despite the growing number of research studies in the area, it is difficult to find evidence to suggest that there are safety benefits associated with age-based mandatory assessment of older drivers.” (Monash University 2005, p. 3)“... forfeiture of driving privileges is considered a major loss by many older adults in terms of social identification, control and independence.” (Monash University, 2006, p. 1)The perception of crime can also be a significant contributor to social isolation in older people. Midwinter (1990) found that older women experience a fear of crime at higher rates than older men. This experience of vulnerability by older people from all social and economic groups bore no relationship to the actual levels of crime. One of the most fearful groups was found to be older people living alone in comparatively trouble-free communities. He found their fears did not stem from direct experience, but from a vague perception of crime statistics. “A large proportion of older people feel that they are at criminal risk, even though they have not been personally victimised. Such a conceptualisation engenders feelings of insecurity about person or property which may cause mental anguish or constrain people to behave in such ways that have a negative impact on their quality of life.” (Pinkerton James 1993, p. 44) Volunteerism into the future“Volunteering performs a crucial role in supporting social inclusion, skills and economic development, and represents an important investment in Tasmania’s future social and economic prosperity.” (Adams 2009, p. 54)Older people make a valuable and significant contribution to society in both economic and social terms through time and money given to the community in voluntary work.“There is a demonstrated need for more volunteers in the Tasmanian community ... more than three quarters of organisations say that they require more volunteers in order to continue meeting their needs.” (Volunteering Tasmania 2010, Executive Summary)According to the Monash Baby Boomer Study (2009), over three-quarters of Baby Boomers plan to volunteer in their retirement. It is not, however, the number of potential volunteers that is the issue but rather the Baby Boomers’ attitudinal changes to volunteering. A different approach is now necessary as “Baby Boomers are demanding more meaningful, interesting, creative and challenging volunteer work.” (Department of Premier and Cabinet 2001, p. 18)The West Australian Government’s Boomnet Project (2001, p. 37), found “the baby boomer generation is no less giving than the previous generation in volunteering and intending to volunteer in the future. What is different is that baby boomers are more assertive, better educated and more demanding than any generation before them.” Fischer and Schaffer (1993) found altruism; ideology; life cycle; positive egoistic factors; social and leisure; and incentives and rewards, were the six main motivations for volunteering by Baby Boomers.While these have also been motivators in the past, the increased expectations and demands of the Baby Boomer generation will place greater pressure on volunteering organisations to meet these expectations. Many organisations have relied on the traditional older volunteer to support the work that they do in the community. Now, with the Baby Boomer generation beginning to retire, working more flexible hours, and/or willing to give their time, these organisations will need to change the way they operate to accommodate the next generation of volunteers and their different expectations.With an ageing population, there will be a greater reliance by government and the community, on volunteer organisations, to support people staying in their own homes and providing some services. Volunteering also has the potential to prevent social isolation.During the Tasmania Together 2010 review, the issues raised in relation to volunteering include the view that volunteers are subject to overly stringent checks and training, and are perhaps being exploited. In terms of considerations for volunteerism into the future, participants want: the onerous insurance requirements simplified;better processes developed;better transport provided; andbetter recognition and reward introduced.Workforce participation“Mature-age workers are vital to our workforce and we need to support their ongoing participation.” (Commonwealth of Australia 2004, p. 15)The workforce as a whole is ageing and this is resulting in a changing workforce. Tasmania’s labour supply is expected to be lower in future years as the number of people exiting the workforce (those in the 55-64 age group) exceeds those entering (people in the 15-24 age group). For the next nine years, the projections suggest there will be, on average, 1 300 more people each year in the “workforce exiting” age group than in the “workforce entering” age group.According to ABS data at June 2009, Tasmania had the lowest proportion of people of working age (65 per cent) of all states and territories.The number of people moving into their 60s and beyond is having, and will continue to have, a significant impact on the workforce as older people need and/or desire to: ease out of the workplace into retirement;rejoin the workforce; andalternate periods of work and leisure. Although in the coming years there are likely to be fewer older people in the workforce, currently around half of those aged in their early 60s are in the workforce which is an increase on the number 10 years ago when it was only around a third. There is, however, evidence that mature age workers (those aged 45 years and over) experience age discrimination in the workplace. According to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) Report (2010) Age discrimination - exposing the hidden barrier for mature age workers, ageism is thriving and age discrimination in the workforce is widespread. “Ageism has been described as ‘a process of systematic stereotyping of, and discrimination against people’ simply because they are older.” (AHRC, p. vii) Older people can face a variety of barriers in finding work or remaining employed, including:recruitment processes;access to training, promotions and flexible work practices;issues with insecure employment;targeted restructures; andage-based bullying. (AHRC, p. vii)Not being able to work because of discrimination can have long-term negative impacts for older people, they may end up relying on income support which can result in living in poverty in their later years.“… we need to firmly establish a culture of employers judging staff on their merits, and people seeing themselves as having ongoing work opportunities, rather than being locked into a fixed date of retirement.” (Commonwealth of Australia 2004, p. 15)COTA (Tas) conducted consultations to provide input to Tasmania Together’s 10 year review (2010). One of the key issues raised in the response was mature age employment, confirming the barriers to work and noting that it is imperative that Tasmania encourages its mature age workers to remain in, or return to, the workforce as the proportion of the younger population declines.Greater recognition and use of older people’s skills and knowledge has the potential to enhance economic benefits and social inclusion. Participants in the 2010 Tasmania Together community consultations, in responding to social concerns, want more jobs for older workers in the future.It is vital for Tasmania’s economic productivity that older people who want to be in paid work are able to do so. Submitting your feedbackThank you for taking the time to respond to this Consultation Paper. Respondents may choose to respond to the consultation questions directly online at or add comments in the space provided in Attachment 1. Additional sheets of paper may be included if required.The feedback received will assist the Government in determining priorities into the future. The Future Directions: Seniors’ Policy for Tasmania three-year plan will be publicly released by the end of 2011.Submissions must be received by 12 August 2011. For inquiries regarding the Consultation Paper, please contact the Seniors Bureau on 6232 7888.Submissions can be mailed to:The Seniors BureauCommunity Development DivisionDepartment of Premier and CabinetGPO Box 123HOBART TAS 7001OrEmail: seniors@dpac..auBibliographyAdams, D. (2009). A Social Inclusion Strategy for Tasmania. Hobart: Department of Premier and Cabinet. Adams, D. (2011). Cost of Living in Tasmania: Interim Report. Hobart: Department of Premier and Cabinet.Ageing and Disability Coalition. (2005). Working Together: Policy on Ageing and Disability. Retrieved May 30, 2011, from , M. (2008). Generational Change: Gen X, Gen Y and Baby Boomers – Hype or risk? Changedrivers “Driving Change” Newsletter, 16. Retrieved March 16, 2011, from Bureau of Statistics. (2003). 4914.0.55.001 - Newsletter: Age Matters, Apr 2003. Retrieved March 31, 2011, from Bureau of Statistics. (2008a). 3222.0 - Population Projections, Australia, 2006 to 2101. Retrieved March 23, 2011, from Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2008b). 1307.6 – Tasmanian State and Regional Indicators, Jun 2008. Retrieved March 23, 2011, from Bureau of Statistics. (2009). 3235.0 – Population by Age and Sex, Regions of Australia, 2009. Retrieved 25 March, 2011, from Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2010a). 3101.0 – Australian Demographic Statistics, Jun 2010. Retrieved 25, March 2011, from $File/31010_jun%202010.pdfAustralian Bureau of Statistics. (2010b). 3201.0 - Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories, Jun 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2011, from Human Rights Commissions. (2010). Age discrimination - exposing the hidden barrier for mature age workers. Sydney: Author.Bartlett, H., Visala, R., and Warburton, J. (2006). Ageing and Cultural Diversity in Queensland: Working together to make a difference. Brisbane: University of Queensland.Benevolent Society. (2009). Social Issues Paper 2: Ageing well and the social inclusion of older people. Retrieved March 21, 2011, from of Australia. (2004). Australia’s Demographic Challenges. Canberra: Author. Commonwealth of Australia. (2010). Australia to 2050: future challenges. Australia: Attorney General’s Department.Council on the Ageing Australia. (2007). Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into the Cost of Living Pressures on Older Australians. Retrieved May 31, 2011 from Change Advisory Council. (2007). Demographic Change in Tasmania: challenges and opportunities. Hobart: Government of Tasmania.Demographic Change Advisory Council. (2009). Demographic Change in Tasmania: Strategies for addressing challenges and opportunities. Hobart: Government of Tasmania.Department of Education. (2010). Tasmanian Adult Literacy Action Plan. Hobart: Department of Education.Department of Premier and Cabinet. (2001). BOOMNET – Capturing the Baby Boomer Volunteers. Perth: West Australian Government.Department of Premier and Cabinet - Seniors Bureau. (2006). Progress Report on the Tasmanian Plan for Positive Ageing. Hobart: Department of Premier and Cabinet.Department of Premier and Cabinet - Seniors Bureau. (2007). Tasmanian Plan for Positive Ageing Second Five Year Plan. Hobart: Department of Premier and Cabinet.Department of Premier and Cabinet - Social Inclusion Unit. (2008). A Social Inclusion Strategy for Tasmania: a consultation paper. Hobart: Department of Premier and Cabinet.Department of Treasury and Finance. (2006). Tasmanian Plan for Positive Ageing Review, Submission. Dufty, G. (2006) presentation to National Ageing Research Institute 2006 Biennial Seminar, Who decides? Lifestyles and care of Older Australians ‘The implications of changing cost pressures on various household types and income groups’. Retrieved from Communities Council of Victoria. (2009). Unready, Unwilling and Ageing: Ethnic Baby Boomers and their Parents. Retrieved May 31, 2011 from , L.R., & Schaffer, K.B. (1993). Older Volunteers: A Guide to Research and Practice. California: Sage Publications.KPMG International. (2009). Monash Baby Boomer Study. Melbourne.Lenihan, D. (2006). Rethinking the Public Policy Process - A Public Engagement Framework. Midwinter, E. (1990). The Old Order: Crime and Older People. London: Centre for Policy on Ageing.Monash University Accident Research Centre. (2005). Licensing options for managing older driver safety. Austroads. Retrieved March 25, 2011, from University Accident Research Centre. (2006). The Elderly and mobility: A review of the literature. LGBTI Health Alliance. Ageing and Issues Facing Older LGBTI Australians. Retrieved May 31, 2011 from James, M. (1993). Crime Prevention for Older Australians. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology.Salt, B. (2001). The Big Shift: Welcome to the Third Culture. Melbourne: Hardie Grant Publishing.Sarkissian, W., Stenberg, B., Hirst, A., & Walton, S.. (2003). Community Participation in Practice: New Directions. Perth: Murdoch University. Stronger Communities Taskforce. (2008). State of Our Community Report 2007: Starting the conversation. Tasmania: Department of Premier and Cabinet.Tasmania Together Progress Board. (2006). Tasmania Together 2020. Hobart: Author.Tasmania Together Progress Board. (2010). Progress Report 2010. Retrieved March 16, 2011, from United Nations. (2007). Program on Ageing. Retrieved March 17, 2011, from Vinson, T. (2007). Dropping off the Edge: the distribution of disadvantage in Australia. Australia: Jesuit Social Services and Catholic Social Services.Volunteering Tasmania. (2010). State of volunteering report: Tasmania 2010. Hobart: Author.World Health Organization. (2007). Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide. Switzerland: WHO Press.University of Tasmania. (2010). Growing Older and Keeping Healthy in Rural Tasmania, September Edition. Retrieved March 21, 2011, from 15.1Access to the basics – Possible actions Work with key stakeholders on the development of programs that target the needs of older people in achieving cost of living benefits. Research:living affordability in Tasmania in relation to income of older people on income support;the impact of existing government concessions on overall income for older people; andthe level of concession rate required to improve access to the basics.Do you agree that access to the basics is an issue for older Tasmanians?YesNoDo you think that access to the basics should be a Government priority?Yes NoOn a scale of 1-6, where 1 is low and 6 is high, where would you rank access to the basics in terms of priority?123456Low priorityHigh priorityAre the possible actions relevant?Yes NoDo you have any comments/suggestions?5.2Access to information – Possible actions Explore options for one-to-one outreach by trusted individuals in delivering relevant and timely information (this is a favoured approach by older people and may be possible through volunteers).Work with local government to examine the viability of developing local directories of services for distribution. Identify where the gaps are in locating information.Do you agree that access to information is an issue for older Tasmanians?YesNoDo you think that access to information should be a Government priority?YesNoOn a scale of 1-6, where 1 is low and 6 is high, where would you rank access to information in terms of priority?123456Low priorityHigh priorityAre the possible actions relevant?YesNoWhat do you consider is the best way to access local information?Do you have any comments/suggestions?5.3Literacy and numeracy – Possible actions Promote findings of current research to relevant government and non-government agencies in the development of policy and service delivery.Work with Learning and Information Network Centres (LINCs) to:promote LINC Tasmania literacy services to older Tasmanians;pilot new skills development programs to support older Tasmanians improve their literacy and numeracy skills; andpromote opportunities for older Tasmanians to access community spaces and resources. Work to raise awareness of valuing and respecting the capacity of individuals to ensure literacy and numeracy support are client-centred.Work to raise awareness of the responsibility of organisations to provide information in the most accessible and user-friendly ways.Work to raise awareness of the need to promote ways to improve older Tasmanians’ numeracy skills.Do you agree that literacy and numeracy are issues for older Tasmanians?YesNoDo you think that literacy and numeracy should be Government priorities?Yes NoOn a scale of 1-6, where 1 is low and 6 is high, where would you rank literacy and numeracy in terms of priority?123456Low priorityHigh priorityAre the possible actions relevant?Yes NoDo you have any comments/suggestions?5.4Land use and social planning – Possible actions Contribute to land use and social planning strategies that achieve the commitment of decision makers, designers and builders of built environments.Contribute to policies on planning for population settlement.Facilitate the development of a pilot site in partnership with local government which reflects the core features of a World Health Organisation age-friendly city.Do you agree that land use and social planning is an issue for older Tasmanians?YesNoDo you think that land use and social planning should be a Government priority?Yes NoOn a scale of 1-6, where 1 is low and 6 is high, where would you rank land use and social planning in terms of priority?123456Low priorityHigh priorityAre the possible actions relevant?Yes NoDo you have any comments/suggestions?5.5Recognising diversity – Possible actions Work with diverse communities to develop an education and awareness campaign for organisations and individuals working with older Tasmanians to raise awareness of the barriers to participation and the associated community support needs. Work with communities to raise awareness of the services available to support diverse community needs.Do you agree that recognising diversity is an issue for older Tasmanians?YesNoDo you think that recognising diversity should be a Government priority?Yes NoOn a scale of 1-6, where 1 is low and 6 is high, where would you rank recognising diversity in terms of priority?123456Low priorityHigh priorityAre the possible actions relevant?Yes NoDo you have any comments/suggestions?5.6Social isolation – Possible actions Work with the University of Tasmania and other groups on projects in support of the social inclusion of older Tasmanians. Work with local government and police on policies that address the perception of crime by older people.Work with local government to encourage local community capacity building initiatives to support social inclusion and participation of older people.Work to address barriers that prevent older Tasmanians who are still capable of driving to do so.Do you agree social isolation is an issue for older Tasmanians?YesNoDo you think social isolation should be a Government priority?Yes NoOn a scale of 1-6, where 1 is low and 6 is high, where would you rank social isolation in terms of priority?123456Low priorityHigh priorityAre the possible actions relevant?Yes NoDo you have any comments/suggestions?5.7Volunteerism into the future – Possible actions Explore recruitment, retention, and reward options for sustainability of Baby Boomer volunteers.Investigate gender differences in participation rates and attitudes to volunteering of the Baby Boomer generation.Work with community groups to implement a program which has Baby Boomers as mentors.Explore the issues in accessing the Baby Boomer generation.Develop links between volunteerism and mentoring.Facilitate finding out what volunteers or potential volunteers want from the experience of volunteering.Do you agree that volunteerism into the future is an issue for older Tasmanians?YesNoDo you think that volunteerism into the future should be a Government priority?Yes NoOn a scale of 1-6, where 1 is low and 6 is high, where would you rank volunteerism into the future in terms of priority?123456Low priorityHigh priorityAre the possible actions relevant?Yes NoDo you have any comments/suggestions?5.8Workforce participation – Possible actions Identify barriers to the successful implementation of existing policy and programs that aim to improve mature age employment, to support the recruitment and retention of older people, and provide opportunities for training or retraining. Conduct research into the rates of workforce participation of mature age people in places of geographical disadvantage.Work with government, employer/industry bodies to manage the implications of demographic change of their workforce through consideration of workplace planning and organisational change.Work with relevant industry representatives on strategies that maximise the retention of the mature workforce. Work with other government agencies to address age discrimination and ageism practices in the workplace.Do you agree that workforce participation is an issue for older Tasmanians?YesNoDo you think that workforce participation should be a Government priority?Yes NoOn a scale of 1-6, where 1 is low and 6 is high, where would you rank workforce participation in terms of priority?123456 Low priorityHigh priorityAre the possible actions relevant?Yes NoDo you have any comments/suggestions? ................
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