Publications > Press Articles 2002

COTA wants to hear from older job seekers

Australian Senior, August 2002

COTA has begun compiling data on the experiences of older people who receive the Disability Support Pension. This follows the Federal Government's attempt to move some older people on Disability Pensions to the lower paying Newstart Allowance. Opposition parties have combined to block the measures - introduced in the Federal Budget - in the Senate.

COTA plans to collect information about the experiences of older people on a Disability Support Pension to show the complexity of problems that they face in the job market.

COTA deputy director Veronica Sheen says research on older job seekers shows that many older workers already face serious levels of discrimination.

"Many have sustained workplace injuries over a long period of time" she said. 'They've been placed on a Disability Pension because they have little chance of finding a suitable job.

"Placing them on a Newstart Allowance would mean that they would lose not just money ($26 a week - and concessions such as pharmaceutical and transport assistance), but will also have to suffer the indignity of applying for jobs they had little chance of getting.

"Age discrimination is a deeply embedded practice in the Australian job market. COTA wants to see that there have been real changes in employer attitude and practice before agreeing to any changes to eligibility for Disability Support Pension for mature workers.

"In rural and regional areas, and the more depressed parts of metropolitan areas, the lack of jobs is even greater. Yet this is where the mature worker with a disability is more likely to live and will have even greater difficulty in searching for a job."

Ms Sheen said COTA has already heard from people who receive a Disability Pension and feared they would be targeted.

But COTA wanted more case studies on which to prepare a national report to present to the Government and a Parliamentary inquiry, if one is held.

COTA particularly wants to hear about current job discrimination and job seeking difficulties experienced by the older person on a disability pension. It wants to document case studies of older workers generally.

If you are a mature age person on a Disability Pension who has sought work - or undergone retraining programs - COTA wants to hear your story, All inforamtion will be treated on a confidential basis. Write to Megan Stoyles, COTA (Australia), Level 2, 3 Bowen Cres Melbourne 3004, or email to mstoyles@cota.org.au