Question time: Getting Older

Series

Getting Older

Where

The Wheeler Centre

When

Tuesday, 7 Apr 2015, 06:15pm - 07:15pm

Event Status

Past event

When you think ‘question time’, perhaps you picture rowdy politicians cussing each other out. But in this ongoing series, we’re putting the dignity back into proceedings … along with a generous amount of time. It’s one full hour of pure Q&A between you, our audience, moderator Madeleine Morris, and a panel of experts in the evening’s chosen field of inquiry.

This special edition of Question time will focus on ageing.

It’s so often noted that it’s become a cliché, but it’s also a fact: the most populous generation of all time – the baby boomers – are hitting the pension years. Advances in medical technologies continue to maintain our bodies longer and ultimately extend lifespans … but they also cost money. Retirement ages are creeping upwards, not always by choice, as households calculate what they can afford. And in our increasingly contract-based employment landscape, other older workers find themselves permanently out of work before they’re ready. We may need to re-evaluate what ‘ageing’ means and at what stage we officially recognise it.

What’s ahead for our ageing population – in terms of both social infrastructure and the way individuals choose to live their lives? How does ageing differ between cultural backgrounds, according to family values and attitudes to care? And how do we honour wisdom and experience, while offering (or planning for) support?

Join Susan Ryan, John Daley, Patricia Edgar and Michele Gierck as they explore these issues affecting all of us, old and young, while we decide what our society will look like in the 21st century.

Featuring

Featuring

Madeleine Morris

Madeleine Morris is a Melbourne-based reporter for ABC television’s 7.30. She was formerly a presenter for the BBC in London and reported from dozens of countries before returning to her native Australia. She is the author of Guilt-Free Bottle-Feeding: Why Your Formula-Fed Baby Can Grow ... Read more

@Mad_Morris

Patricia Edgar

Patricia Edgar is a sociologist, educator, film and television producer, writer, researcher, and policy analyst. Through a career spanning four decades she has been at the forefront of media for children nationally and internationally, winning multiple awards for her achievements and programs. ... Read more

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Michele Gierck

Michele Gierck is a writer, an inspiring speaker and an educator. Michele’s latest book, Fraying: Mum, Memory Loss, the Medical Maze and Me, published in February 2015, chronicles a mother’s and daughter’s journey through memory loss and the medical maze. Her other books include... Read more

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John Daley

John Daley is the inaugural chief executive of Grattan Institute, which provides independent, rigorous and practical solutions to Australia’s most pressing public policy issues. The current programs of Grattan Institute focus on productivity growth, cities, school education, tertiary education, en... Read more

Susan Ryan

Susan Ryan was appointed as Australia’s first Age Discrimination Commissioner on 30 July 2011 for a five year term. In 2014, she was appointed Disability Discrimination Commissioner — in addition to her responsibilities as Age Discrimination Commissioner. She commenced her new app... Read more