Study seeks views on retirement policy

A Charles Darwin University researcher will explore how local economies and ethnic backgrounds influence the views of older Australians on proposed policies to keep them in the workforce longer.

PhD candidate Ilonka Guse will interview workers aged between 55 and 65 in Darwin and Melbourne, from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, for a critical review of potential responses to retirement policy.

“Previous studies identify financial wellbeing, health, and age discrimination in the workplace and a lack of suitable jobs as factors that influence people’s retirement intentions,” Ms Guse said.

“But little is known about the influence diverse populations, geography and economies have on the decision-making process.”

Ms Guse said she also would investigate policies aimed at retaining older workers who planned to retire early, to pay for publicly funded pensions and projected increased public healthcare costs, in line with countries including Finland and the Netherlands.

“There is a global ageing revolution,” Ms Guse said.

“An understanding of people’s reactions to recent pension and superannuation reforms  will be required to increase the likelihood of policy success across different economic environments in Australia.”

Ms Guse is a psychologist, who has previously studied in the field of social gerontology, cognitive decline and active ageing.

International Day for Older Persons will be held on Sunday, 1 October.