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Compare Communities - Australia’s First Choice, when comparing Retirement Villages. Compare, select and save up to $15k in your next move in life. 1300 190 547
on the Thursday, May 12, 2016
IRT Group's IRT Foundation this week welcomed a $59,350 grant from the NSW Government to help fund a Career Check Up Expo for mature age workers in the Illawarra.
"We're delighted to receive this funding support from the NSW Government's Liveable Communities Grants program," said IRT Group Chief Executive, Nieves Murray.
"The grant will help our IRT Foundation collaborate with local businesses to hold an Expo that is designed to connect people over 50 years of age with specialist employment and training organisations, and prospective employers."
Ms Murray said the goal of the Expo is to help Illawarra seniors plan for their encore career.
"A recent report by National Seniors Australia found that older Australians who plan for an encore career are less likely to wind up jobless, but a majority of seniors don't believe career planning is relevant to them," she said.
"We're here to say that career planning for the over 50s is highly relevant, and vital to support people to continue working into their 60s and beyond."
The issue of mature workforce participation is gaining momentum. Australians have to work until 67 years of age to qualify for the Age Pension, increases in life expectancy means 50 will become the new 'middle age', and there's more pressure on seniors to work for longer to selffund their retirement.
However, research by the Australian Human Rights Commission found age discrimination is rife in Australian workplaces, and there's not enough innovation and flexibility to attract and retain mature age workers.
"The Expo will bring key players in the Illawarra together to talk and connect, and develop employment pathways that will work for our region," said Ms Murray.
The Expo will be held in the second half of 2016.
"I invite anyone interested in participating in the Illawarra Expo, either as an exhibitor or a participant, to contact IRT Foundation and join us to help tackle barriers to mature workforce participation," she said.
To express your interest in the Expo, email irtfoundation@irt.org.au or phone 1800 024 915.
Click here to find out more about IRT Group's retirement villages and communities.
Pictured: IRT Foundation Team L to R: Peter Brady, Safrina Thristiawait, Natasha Debsieh and Toby Dawson
