Introduction

Australia has one of the most rapidly ageing populations in the world. Together with other developing countries, we are about to face one of the most challenging global social changes the world has ever experienced. We therefore need to develop new approaches and attitudes to the whole process of ageing and recognise that ‘ageing’ is not the exclusive domain of the ‘very old’.

A rapidly ageing population will require a re-evaluation of our expectations of life in retirement: our lifelong acquisition of skills and the transfer of knowledge, our involvement with communities, workplaces and educational institutions as well as relationships with extended family members and friends.

Radio Adelaide’s Positive Ageing Project, a series of twenty short radio program produced by Laine Langridge, was funded by the Department of Human Services, Ageing and Community Care.

Lifelong learning and the sharing of wisdom and ideas is the unifying theme throughout the series.

The ten interviews in Part One of the program focus on mature age employment and employer attitudes and demonstrates some innovative approaches to mature age work, retirement and redundancy. Increasing longevity means that retirement and work are no longer mutually exclusive terms, especially as many retirees can expect to spend up to 30 years beyond what was traditionally termed ‘retirement age’.

The ten interviews in Part Two explore the intergenerational links connecting the elders of our communities with younger generations - enabling wisdom, ideas and education to flow in many directions. Several of these projects have developed creative collaborations that have grown beyond the initial goals or expected outcomes.

This important series shows positive ageing as a life development stage that offers the potential for renewal and regeneration for individuals while enhancing the lives of others and creating social capital.

Kaye Healey
Retirement Counsellor and
author of 'Working and Living in Retirement'

A Positive Ageing Project funded by the South Australian Government through the Department of Human Services