Media Releases > Press Articles 2002

Govt funds COTA projects

Australian Senior, July 2002, p30

COTA Australia has won funding for two new research projects into mature age unemployment and retirement.

The results are expected to provide valuable new insights into the issues faced by older workers in the 21^st century.

One project - for the Federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations - provides older workers with information about the changing nature of the labour market and portfolio employment.

COTA ran experimental workshops with mature age workers in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Adelaide and Melbourne in June.

The workshops ensure that older people are well informed about their labour market prospects and support systems like training, job search assistance and personal counselling.

They will use the best expertise available on the issues about the changing labour market from COTA itself, Government, and agencies including Job Network and private employment agencies.

One initiative is to introduce the idea of portfolio employment. The portfolio concept encompasses one worker doing a number of jobs that are part-time, casual or on contract.

COTA believes the concept could allow older workers to generate income, using it a stepping stone to full-time employment with a single employer or be a sustainable alternative for people who want to work beyond conventional retirement age.

The second project is funded by the Australian Research Council. It is a Linkages Project, 'Negotiating Transitions to Retirement'.

COTA is in partnership with Dr Linda Hancock of Deakin University. The research - done over 2002-2003 - will ask:

• What changes in employment, family life and society have affected people in the pre-retirement years over the past 40 years.
  
  
• Decide how the changes have strained the socialsupport systems for the group
  
  
• Decide what new systems of support are needed. COTA believes that this project will provide new material which will assist in social policy formulation aimed at people in their pre retirement years.

COTA Deputy National Executive Director, Veronica Sheen, is coordinator for both projects. She will travel to the USA and Europe in August and September to study ageing workforce policies and projects as part of her Churchill Fellowship.