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Naming and shaming - getting rid of age prejudice

By Malcolm King - posted Monday, 5 September 2011


  • Older workers feel pressured to retire before the pension eligibility age of 67.

I like Candy – in small doses

Some time ago I went for a part time job at Oxfam as an Office Manager. I was in my late 40s then. My professional writing business was up and running but a couple of more days work a week would have been handy. I had previously done volunteer media work for Oxfam so I knew a bit about them.

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As I entered the interview it was all smiles from the panel except for one young woman called Candy. 15 minutes in to the interview Candy said apropos of a reply I made, 'I think you might be a bit over qualified'.

It was true that I had a lot of experience leading staff, I had taught at university and I had worked in the media. I was just looking for a part time job, not to pilot the Space Shuttle. I was done 'like a dog's dinner'.

Candy was about 26 and her blog said she liked travelling. She was politically 'right on' – except for her prejudicial attitude and a lack of tact. Why should our date of birth have anything to do with our suitability for employment?

New Commissioner

The new Aged Commissioner Susan Ryan said in The Weekend Australian recently "The view seems to be if you're over 50, you can't do this; if you're over 60, you can't to that; and if you're over 70, you can't do anything."

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Ms Ryan's new role also extends to ensuring young people are not discriminated against on the basis of age. She says young people also need to be made more aware of their workplace rights, but her first agenda item will be to help older people work longer if they choose to.

We also need to keep in mind that recent share market volatility going back to the GFC in 2008 has wiped up to 20 percent off some superannuation nest eggs. This loss, combined with the Federal Government's policy change of the staged increase in the age pension age to 67, means that many older workers will have to work longer.

Age discrimination was banned in a series of laws enacted in the other states and the two Territories between 1991 and 1999 and the Commonwealth Parliament legislated against Age Discrimination in 2004. Legislation banning compulsory retirement was also enacted during this period.

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About the Author

Malcolm King is a journalist and professional writer. He was an associate director at DEEWR Labour Market Strategy in Canberra and the senior communications strategist at Carnegie Mellon University in Adelaide. He runs a writing business called Republic.

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