Why your experience matters
It’s time to change the way older people are seen and heard.
Let’s all celebrate Grandparents’ Day
Following a tradition set in the United States, Grandparents’ Day is celebrated in Australia on the last Sunday in October.
The impetus was a letter written in 1969 to President Richard Nixon by 9-year-old Russell Capper who suggested a special day be set aside to celebrate grandparents.
It took some time, as all good things do, but it came to fruition in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation declaring Grandparents Day.
Mr Carter said the purpose of the day was “to honour grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer”.
While it may not have the profile of Fathers’ Day or Mothers’ Day, Grandparents’ Day does provide us with an opportunity to reflect on the joys having or being a grandparents can bring.
It’s a time for us all to recognise the contribution to family, community, and nation made by grandparents, and to acknowledge how they have shared a lifetime of experience with us.
National Seniors Australia (NSA) is calling on older Australians to help change their narrative with a new campaign, Experience Matters.
NSA CEO Mr Chris Grice said too often, older Australians, despite their experience, are portrayed as problems instead of solutions, burdens instead of builders.
The ageing population is seen as an impending cost as opposed to a potential opportunity.
“With age comes wisdom. More years lived means more experience gained. Experience gives us skills, knowledge, and insight. It is sought after and rewarded,” Mr Grice said.
“For most of our lives, it counts – until it doesn’t. Although age brings with it experience, it can also bring a perception of being past a use-by-date.
“NSA’s Experience Matters campaign promotes the importance and imparts the benefits of knowledge, wisdom, and insight gained during a lifetime of experience.
“The number of people aged 65+ is expected to grow by 2.35 million by 2041, and those aged 85+ expected to grow by almost 750,000 over the same time. We need to plan for this impact and this opportunity now.”
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Volunteering Australia, almost half of voluntary work is done by people aged 55+. Over a quarter of this work by people age 70+.
People aged 65 –74 are the highest proportion of carers and primary cares.
“From local clubs and community groups to national not-for-profit organisations and charities, in family homes where grandparents care for grandchildren, and spouses care for spouses, Australia relies on the physical and economic contributions, and experiences, of older Australians,” Mr Grice said.
As part of the Experience Matters campaign, NSA is calling on older Australians to share their own experiences; their “pearls of wisdom” with the peak advocacy body which it will, in turn, share with the broader community.
“We’ve all reflected on decisions that could have resulted in better outcomes if we’d been more informed,” Mr Grice said.
“Some decisions may be minor with minimal consequences. Some can be much bigger with significant consequences, especially when they come to issues such as retirement planning, health and aged care.
“NSA calls on all older Australians to help the broader community view them as the solution and builders they are, rather than the problem and burden they are often portrayed. Because, Experience Matters."
With age comes wisdom and the more years lived means more experience gained. At every stage of our life, whether we’re benefiting from experience being shared or benefiting from sharing our experience, Experience Matters.
