The Iemma Government’s Roundtable on future ageing issues focused on the changes that population ageing will bring to NSW and the need for long-term planning to maximise the opportunities it will present. Hosted by the Minister for Ageing, the Hon. Kristina Keneally MP, the event was held at Parliament House, Sydney on 30 and 31 October 2007.
Population ageing is expected to impact most acutely in 20 to 25 years. By that time the number of people aged over 65 years will have doubled and, for the first time in NSW, there more older than younger people.
Over 120 leading decision-makers and experts from government, business, industry, community organisations and academia came together to share ideas and generate solutions to help equip our economy, workforce and communities to prepare for this change.
Three major areas of planning were addressed:
- Prevention and early intervention - including ageing well and maintaining independence
- Liveable homes and communities
- Economic and social engagement.
Each participant was given background papers prepared by eminent Australian researchers and heard from four plenary speakers on their perspectives about the challenges and opportunities of population ageing into the future.
The Roundtable was co-convened by the Hon. Barrie Unsworth, former Premier of New South Wales, and the Hon. Patricia Forsythe, a former member of the New South Wales Legislative Council and now the Executive Director of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce.
There were eight concurrent Working Groups chaired by Members of the New South Wales Parliament and each focused on a specific topic within the three planning areas. The Groups met three times during the Roundtable to identify the issues and consider a range of options.
Plenary speakers
Read each speaker’s perspective on population ageing and the future.
Background papers
Read the background papers that were given to all participants, prepared by eminent Australian researchers.
Community consultations
Read about the consultation process and its outcomes.
Fact sheets
Read the fact sheets that were given to all participants.
Ageing 2030 Roundtable Report (pdf, 270K)
|
Today, about 1 million people or 14% of the NSW population are aged 65 years and older.
By 2026 this is expected to increase to 20% of the population and over 1.5 million people.
In 2046, it is expected that over 2.2 million people in NSW will be aged 65 and older.
This means that about 25 percent of the population or more than double the present number people will be aged 65 and older in 2046. |