Be age-friendly

Businesses can be age-friendly by being accessible and employing mature-aged people.

Being an age-friendly business has many benefits, including:

• Increasing your customer base
• Drawing on decades of knowledge and expertise to fill skill gaps in the workplace
• Having mature-aged workers who can often identify improvements in processes and act as mentors to younger or less experienced employees

One in two people aged 65 and over live with disability. More than 40 per cent of the Baby Boomer generation will retire with some kind of disability, and this cohort will want to maintain their lifestyle. 

If this cohort has reduced access to businesses then everyone loses. However, if your business is accessible, you are likely to maintain your customer base and encourage new customers with access needs.

How to be age-friendly

There is plenty of support available to help you become an age-friendly business. Check out these great resources:

• Improve accessibility
• Department of Employment and Workplace Relations resources:
  • Investing in Experience Toolkit
  • Employer Toolkit
  • Interactive training modules 
• Resources for seniors
  • Service Australia’s Work Bonus
  • City of Swan seniors’ services