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
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 Friday, July 1, 2016
Over 200 ACT seniors participated in the Territory's first Career Check Up Expo for Mature Workers in Belconnen on Wednesday June 29. The Expo was a joint initiative of IRT Foundation, the ACT Government and the Australian Human Rights Commission and was designed to help people over the age of 45 plan for an encore career.
"Recent research by National Seniors Australia shows that without a plan, seniors are more likely to wind up jobless," said IRT Group Acting CEO Rod Young.
"The Expo helped participants understand and articulate their skills, and connected them with experts who helped them plan to continue engaging in paid work through their 50s, into their 60s and even their 70s," he said.
"So much can happen in those 20 years — kids leave home, ageing parents need support, travel beckons and retirement planning kicks in — encore career planning can help mature workers make these the best working years of their life."
ACT Minister for Veterans and Seniors, Dr Chris Bourke MLA said that Canberrans had opportunities to work for longer because they are living longer and remaining in good health for longer than ever.
"This means that more and more are willing and able to work into their 60s and 70s, but currently only 1 in 3 Australians over the age of 55 is taking part in the workforce," Dr Bourke said.
"In the ACT, we want to ensure there are employment opportunities for people who want to work later in life.
"We want to reduce barriers, boost mature workforce participation and effectively respond to the needs of our mature workers," he said.
Dr Bourke said the Mature Check Up Expo helped to do this by bringing mature workers together with employers, training organisations, employment specialists, financial planners, and relevant areas of the ACT Government to explore opportunities for paid work for local mature workers.
Outgoing Age Discrimination Commissioner, the Hon Susan Ryan AO said the Australian Human Rights Commission is a proud supporter of this initiative, which IRT Foundation hopes to roll-out to other States and Territories.
Click here to find out more about IRT Group's retirement communities.
Pictured left to right:
