On Wednesday IRT Group Acting chief executive  Stig Andersen met Age and Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Susan Ryan to sign Statement of Intent to work collaboratively on projects to tackle age discrimination and encourage mature workers to stay in the workplace.

Potential projects include an Intergenerational Job Share initiative, whereby women returning from maternity leave may job share with a mature worker. As well as a Mature Workforce Roundtable for employers and a Career Check-up Program.

Mr Andersen said they were working to change perceptions of the elderly people of communities. 

‘‘We know from research that engagement in paid work is a factor in better physical and mental health, and we also know that mature workers have a lot to offer in the workplace,’’ he said. 

‘‘Where barriers exist, we want to tackle those barriers in partnership with decision makers." 

Commissioner Ryan said removing barriers that stopped older Australians from continuing paid work was vital to addressing the challenges of the ‘longevity revolution’. 

"The biggest barrier to Australians enjoying longer and more productive working lives is age discrimination,’’ he said. ‘‘Aged iscrimination is not only harmful to individuals; it is holding the whole economy back," she said. 

"While the trend is now in the right direction, we need to speed things up so that all of those in older age groups who are willing and able can get jobs.’’

The Mature Workforce Initiative was launched at The Power of Oldness luncheon on Wednesday, July 8 in Canberra. 

At the luncheon, Commissioner Ryan addressed community and business leaders on the key findings of the recently released Intergenerational Report and National Report on the Prevalence of Age Discrimination, and the proposal for a National Jobs Checkpoint Plan for older Australians.