Award winning journalist Tony Eastley, who presents AM on Local and National ABC Radio, is one of the ABC's most experienced and respected journalists and has done an extraordinary range of reporting and interviewing in the 25 or so years he's been with the ABC.This is a transcript from AM. The program is broadcast around Australia at 08:00 on ABC Local Radio, November 22, 2007: TONY EASTLEY: As the public policy debate about Australia's ageing population continues, a new report indicates that older people make a bigger contribution to the economy than many people think.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has found almost a quarter of older Australians over the age of 65 provide financial or non-financial support to people outside their family.
And they do large amounts of volunteer as well as primary care work.
Michael Edwards has this report.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare conducted the report titled Older Australia at a Glance, and it says its findings counter incorrect perceptions of the impact ageing Australians have on society.
Ann Peut is the head of the Institute's Ageing and Aged Care Unit.
ANN PEUT: Various people in the community have become aware that our population is ageing, and there has been some attention given to what the policy implications of that are for government expenditure in particular.
There's been a focus consequently on that issue and it's easy in those conversations to forget or to overlook the often unpaid contributions that older people are making that are not going to be measured in things like GDP (gross domestic product) or measures that we conventionally use about economic wellbeing.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: Compiled using Bureau of Statistics figures, the report says older Australians are active contributors to the social and economic wellbeing of the country.
Ann Peut says the report shows older Australians' financial contribution to the economy often goes unrecorded.
ANN PEUT: So what we found was that among people who are aged 65 and over, almost a quarter provide some kind of financial support to other relatives who live outside their household.
Now that might be to adult children who are aged 25 and over. It might be indeed to their own elderly parents. If they're a 65-year-old, they may at times provide some financial support to an older parent.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: And according to the report, the contribution is not just financial. Almost half of all people provide unpaid help outside their household.
One third provide volunteer services and 29 per cent are actively involved in a community organisation. And the 65 to 74 age group also makes up 13 per cent of primary carers for people with disabilities.
TONY EASTLEY: Michael Edwards with that report.
Reporter: Michael Edwards
© 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Click to read report from Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, Canberra
