Retirement and ageing
This research area focuses on the risks and transitions facing older Australians, building an evidence base about poverty and social exclusion among older people to inform strategies that will foster social inclusion. This includes undertaking research about trends and best practice in aged and community care and governance of services, especially for vulnerable older people. It also involves developing policy positions on related issues such as retirement incomes and related taxation policy, mature age employment and housing affordability. Current research related to retirement and ageing includes:
A workshop Ready for the second fifty years in December 2009 included presentations on emerging research and policy themes.
Social inclusion, capabilities and older Australians
Contact: Helen Kimberley hkimberley@nullbsl.org.au
The aim of this research is to develop a framework for identifying capabilities and enhancing social inclusion of older Australians. This will provide a foundation for devising innovative approaches for aged care services, and will inform evaluation for continuous improvement.
Chelsea Seniors ICT Access evaluation
Contact: Bonnie Simons bsimons@nullbsl.org.au
The Chelsea Seniors ICT Access Project is providing internet access and training to a selected group of older people living the Chelsea Community Renewal area in the City of Kingston. The evaluation, commissioned by the Department of Planning and Community Development, will assess the project’s role in decreasing social isolation and improving wellbeing and community participation.
Workforce participation and retirement among baby boomers in Australia
Contact: Helen Kimberley hkimberley@nullbsl.org.au
This research will involve both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyse the characteristics of those baby boomers who are currently not in paid employment, with particular attention to differences between those who are voluntarily or involuntarily not working, and between men and women. It will also explore the barriers to participation for this group of mature Australians, and their diverse experiences and attitudes. NATSEM, University of Canberra, is conducting the quantitative analysis.
Social exclusion of older people through language
Contact: Helen Kimberley hkimberley@nullbsl.org.au
This is an exploratory study of the ways in which older people in Australia are excluded from the mainstream by the language used to address and describe them.
Outcomes review of the Myer Foundation’s 2020: A Vision for Aged Care
Contact: Helen Kimberley hkimberley@nullbsl.org.au
In April 2002, the Myer Foundation announced it would invest $1 million provided by the Sidney Myer Fund in the future of aged care in Australia, through its 2020: A Vision for Aged Care in Australia project. Later that year, the project report presented images of an aged care world in 2020. The gaps revealed between current reality (2002) and a desirable future (2020) highlighted the challenges ahead as the number of people needing care increases with Australia's ageing population.
Since then, the Myer Foundation has funded a number of strategic initiatives to keep attention on key aged care issues. The Brotherhood was engaged by the foundation to track the influence of the investment on government policy and assess its impact on practice.
Report
Astrid Reynolds The Myer Foundation 2020: A Vision for Aged Care outcomes review (PDF file, 433 KB)
Understanding homelessness and cognitive impairment
Contact: Helen Kimberley hkimberley@nullbsl.org.au
Alzheimer’s Australia, the peak body providing support and advocacy for people living with dementia, engaged the Brotherhood to build an informed picture of the specific needs of those people with dementia and other forms of cognitive impairment who are homeless or have insecure housing. The primary focus of the project was preparation of a practice guide for housing workers who support these men and women.
Good Food Matters evaluation
Contact: Bonnie Simons bsimons@nullbsl.org.au
The Good Food Matters program is an innovative project of the Brotherhood’s Aged and Community Care Social Inclusion Program which is matching socially isolated older people with complex needs and poor nutrition, with unemployed mature-age people who wish to work as Community Meal Attendants. The project will also provide additional training opportunities for others already working as Personal Care Attendants.
The Research and Policy Centre is conducting the project evaluation. Use of action research methodology will ensure engagement of all stakeholders and provide timely feedback to enable continuous improvement.
Retirement incomes
See research on Taxation