AGE MATTERS PROJECT

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:52): My question is to the Minister for Industrial Relations. Can the minister advise the chamber how SafeWork SA is working with employers to improve workforce participation and productivity rates for older workers?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:52): I thank the honourable member for his question and acknowledge the many years that Mr Kandelaars looked after his members, in particular those approaching retirement. This government has recognised the need to utilise the skills of our older population to better position them in relation to income, health and social participation, as well as improving South Australia's productivity.

The latest update of the South Australian Strategic Plan includes a new target, target 48, on ageing workforce participation. This target is to increase the proportion of older South Australians who are engaged in the workforce by 10 per cent by 2020. SafeWork SA, through its Age Matters project, is playing a vital role in addressing this target and the underutilisation and discrimination that mature age workers may experience in recruitment and employment in the South Australian workforce.

The Age Matters project commenced in 2011 and uses a number of strategies to raise awareness of the productivity gains from mature age employment. One of these strategies is a partnership between SafeWork SA and the Equal Opportunity Commission who are working together to optimise the workforce participation of mature workers, increase awareness of the business benefits of adopting age-inclusive approaches and flexible workplace arrangements, and dispel the myths often associated with older workers.

Another strategy is the development of the Age Matters Online Web Series which aims to promote age inclusive attitudes in the workplace and to dispel the myths about older workers often held by younger co-workers and managers. In order to appeal and be accessible to the younger adult market, the Age Matters project has explored the development of this online resource as a way of utilising social media distribution as an alternative mode of delivering anti-discrimination messages.

The web series consists of three short episodes which use a humorous and light-hearted approach to gently challenge the attitudes held by younger South Australians about older workers. These episodes, which were funded through the Office of the Ageing, will shortly be available on the SafeWork SA and Equal Opportunity Commission websites. The web series will also be used by the Equal Opportunity Commission as a resource for a new age discrimination and employment training program.

Another initiative SafeWork SA has been involved with recently was welcoming the Hon. Susan Ryan AO, Age Discrimination Commissioner, for her first official public address in South Australia. As Australia's first Age Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Ryan presented at the Intercontinental Adelaide Hotel on Tuesday 22 May 2012, along with several other keynote speakers. Organised in partnership with the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, the session explored how engaging older workers can lead to improving productivity in the workforce and the importance of viewing our ageing population in a positive way rather than as an economic and social burden.

This session was timely given that the Australian government recently announced that it will offer employers a $1,000 incentive to employ unemployed people over the age of 50 in a bid to redress discrimination against older job seekers. There will be 10,000 of these incentive payments available during the four-year program, which commences on 1 July 2012. Flexible work options can improve workforce participation and productivity rates, and SafeWork SA is working with employers to promote flexible work for older workers who are in the workforce.

SafeWork SA is developing case studies, publications and an e-learning resource, through the Equal Opportunity Commission, to provide educational tools and other support for employers. By embracing our ageing population through some of the initiatives being undertaken by SafeWork SA, we are raising awareness of the skills offered by older workers and the importance of maintaining a welcoming and flexible environment for those over-50s still in the workforce.