Age prejudice is a hangover from another era. Today's workplaces need muscles between the ears so its very strange they sack their most experienced workers or won't let young people on board as they have no experience.

A shrinking tax base means shrinking funds for welfare, even with a booming mining sector (which should really be put in to a sovereignty savings fund for the future).

I like the idea of naming and shaming so people can Google search companies who are backwards.

Thank you for acknowledging the age discrimination faced by young people, particularly graduates, ruled out due to lack of experience – it’s pretty hard to get experience when no-one will give you a go! I faced nine months of knockbacks despite extensive volunteer experience. My eventual employer recognised the benefits of recent training and a desire to continue learning, I only hope other employers can see this too.

There's no need for naming and shaming Cheryl. Since you believe that the aged are being undervalued in the market, you can fix the whole problem by employing them all yourself and make a huge profit - if your theory is correct. If it isn't, you'll go broke, and then there will have been no grounds for naming and shaming companies who didn't comply with your erroneous opinion, will there?

Well I won't be employing some old fool around here.

Hell, I even have to occasionally employ someone to help me with some of my hobbies & chores from time to time.

Why on earth would I want another old fool to do that?

Not 100 percent sure on where you're coming from Peter.

Why am I wrong to stick up for older workers and young people who are prejudiced against because they happen to be young or old?

Surely you fit or fitted in somewhere to these categories. Unless you were never young and were simply born cynical.

Age prejudice is one prejudice which has the potential to hit everyone.

D.O.M.E (Don't overlook mature expertise) is actually doing something about getting older people back into the workforce. They're based in Adelaide and Brisbane, a self-help organisation that's been around for over 20 years, they are invaluable and extremely effective, they helped me get 2 casual jobs in the mid-80s, just exactly what i needed at the time and what i was looking for. They probably gave up on Melbourne and Sydney probably sensing that they'd be much more effective in Adelaide and Brisbane. And a good thing govt bureaucrats aren't in charge - they just operate on the smell of an oily rag but - most importantly - they deliver! They're a national treasure, and I thank God they're still around!

Age discrimination isn't restricted to the workplace. Our governments continue to unashamedly develop policies that discriminate on the basis of age. A recent example of blatant age discrimination can be found in the government's terms of reference to the Productivity Commission for 'reforms' in Aged Care and Disability Care.

In a nutshell anybody over 65 must be treated less favorably, and ditto anybody under 65 who has what the government considers 'a disability acquired as part of the natural ageing process'.

Because you haven't established that it is irrational prejudice in the first place. You don't pay a 16 year old the same as you employ a professional electrician do you? So what makes you think it's "prejudice" to "discriminate against" the younger person? The fact that older people aren't employed as much doesn't automatically mean that the employers are irrationally prejudiced. There's always the possibility that they know what they're doing and you don't!

Need more on this topic. There is the work issues, the Higher Education issues, the stark social and economic issues and of course the civic wellbeing issues.

Of these I find DEEWR, Job Providers have poor linkages to Universities where many of middle age or Elder Australians could make an enormous contribution. Lack of access generally with poor Commonwealth funding policy structures - assistance or loan schemes for PhD for example.

Why would Elder Australians want to begin first year all over again or drop the discipline of their career, negate their own whole life experience because there is no pathway to further their expertise in streaming ongoing opportunities in higher research and education.

Why does funding Assistance cut-off at PhD less you win a scholarship.

Why does Australia negate it need for innovation on the eve of this aging boom?

How many middle aged or elder Australians could contribute to further study if there was a whole systemic approach that included their needs rather then excluded them.

The knowledge Nation concept needs a revamp. The Bradley report needs to put equity and access inside the policies that target the needs of middle aged or elder Australians.

I had had so much hope at the begining of all the announcements in education. Presently I find the tasks, as reflected above incomplete when it comes to authenic access and opportunity for middle-age and Elder Australians.

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miacat
Why don't you fund old people to do PhDs?

And why don't you employ them if you think they are underemployed? There is all that talent going to waste. You could do good and do well at the same time. Why don't you?