This year's annual Social Justice Statement from the Australian Catholic bishops highlights the contribution older people make to the life of the community.
Launching the document, titled A Place at the Table: Social Justice in an Ageing Society, earlier this month, Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay said we should celebrate the great 'success story' of our ageing population and, as a fair and compassionate nation, foster solidarity among all generations.
Improvements in technology, health and community services have increased the longevity of the Australian population. Around 75 per cent of men and 85 per cent of women are reaching 65 in good health and have about 20 years of life ahead of them.
More and more, the years following retirement are characterised by continued participation in the labour market, care of family members, community service and charitable giving.
Some older Australians are primary carers of their spouse, and many are unpaid carers for family and friends, including providing childcare to grandchildren. Many volunteer a lifetime's worth of skill, experience and wisdom to community organisations, and support people who would otherwise be isolated.
Some younger people find it hard to prioritise care for older relatives and acquaintances. Some elderly experience loneliness and discrimination, and there is the grim reality of elder abuse, often perpetrated by family members.
The bishops invite us to a culture of compassionate care that values and protects aged people and challenges the 'throw-away' culture that casts older people as burdensome or dispensable. We live in an inter-dependent world where those in need share the benefits of the market and are protected from poverty.
Australia is now planning for an economy that has more elderly people. Death rates are declining and life expectancy is increasing. Children born today will live into their 90s. Our population should reach 36 to 40 million by 2050; the number of Australians aged 65 and over will go from 3.5 million to 9 million.
"Divisive terms such as 'intergenerational theft' or comparisons between 'productive workers' and 'burdensome retirees' are invidious and unhelpful."
The population demographic has also changed significantly. In 1970 we had 29 per cent of the population under 15 and 8 per cent over 65. In 2050 we will have about 17 per cent under 15 and 23 per cent over 65.
In an earlier era, government budgets planned more for younger people through education and programs for families oriented to children and adolescents. This developed a good foundation for the future. In the years