The Blueprint for an Ageing Australia has entered a new phase with the launch on Monday of the Longevity Forum, an initiative housed within think tank Per Capita.
The forum’s mission is to continue the momentum of the blueprint, which was launched at the National Press Club in Canberra on 3 September, by pursuing the recommendations for rigorous and innovative policy solutions in the area of ageing and longevity outlined.
As Australian Ageing Agenda has reported, the blueprint put forward recommendations in a range of areas from housing and retirement to technology and workforce. Specifically, it called for a Seniors Enterprise Institute to facilitate entrepreneurialism and volunteering; mandating the study of gerontology in all undergraduate healthcare courses; and a national telehealth strategy.
Per Capita said that the Longevity Forum would take the ideas from the blueprint and turn them into policies that improve the quality of life of older Australians and allow the country to harness ageing as a social and economic good.
“The Longevity Forum will be a fulcrum of applied policy work on ageing and longevity in Australia, bringing together the best ideas from business, government and the not-for-profit sectors. We look forward to working with leaders in each of these sectors.
“Per Capita is delighted that Everald Compton AM, former chairman of the Panel for Positive Ageing, and tireless advocate of the rights of older Australians, has agreed to be the inaugural chairman of the Forum. The Forum’s structure and membership will evolve as discussions with prospective partners
continue, and we anticipate making further announcements about these in the coming months,” said Per Capita.
Writing in AAA today, Mr Compton says the challenge presented by the ageing population is so urgent that the Prime Minister must take personal responsibility for Australia’s ageing strategy. “The Prime Minister’s Office must have a dedicated Minister for Ageing to coordinate the ageing element of every ministry, as well as the responses of state and local governments and commerce, industry and community organisations,” he writes.
