Italiano
Sentirsi invisibili e senza voce.
Sono sentimenti che molti australiani descrivono di provare a causa dell'ageismo.
Per Robin, 79 anni, l'ageismo è molto diffuso, dal posto di lavoro fino agli incontri quotidiani.
"People just look upon older people as old. I've been described as old quite often recently. 'You're an old person.' ...I think that younger people see us as a burden, like vampires sucking the economy dry, is the way we are perceived."
Robin racconta che le è stato detto di prendere in considerazione la morte assistita volontaria e che prendere un cane alla sua età è irresponsabile: ad alcuni suoi amici è stata negata l'assistenza sanitaria a causa della loro età.
You only have to look at free screening services where you receive something in the mail saying it's time for your breast screen or your bowel screen, or whatever screen... They all end when you turn 70 or 75, because we as older people are going to die of something... So, are we dispensable?"
Come Robin, Merilyn, che il giorno del suo 70° compleanno ha deciso di intraprendere la carriera di attrice, dice di aver sperimentato l'ageismo.
"They look at older people different, and whether it's pursuing a career in something else, or whether they're looking for another job. But forgetting that-- bearing in mind that older people have had a lot of life experiences. And those experiences contribute to the community."
All'inizio di quest'anno è stata protagonista del film “Merilyn” del regista Andrea Seno, vincitore di vari premi.
Il tema del concorso era “La vita nelle immagini” e mirava a offrire uno sguardo positivo sull'invecchiamento nella comunità.
"I think the younger generation are starting to realise that media and the possibility of telling stories is a valuable option. So, they can grow some sort of sensibility of letting older people teach them something."
Sebbene la discriminazione sul lavoro basata sull'età sia illegale in Australia, i sostenitori di questa causa dicono che le leggi da sole non bastano.
La dottoressa Marlene Krasovitsky è portavoce di EveryAGE Counts.
"The Elder Abuse study in 2021 empirically confirmed, that the more ageist we are, the more likely we will condone elder abuse. And the more ageist we are, the less likely we are to recognise elder abuse."
Il commissario per la discriminazione per l'età Robert Fitzgerald ha dichiarato che gli abusi sugli anziani non possono continuare.
"One in six older people over the age of 65 already identify as having been abused in the previous year. One in six. That's a huge number. And many of us also recognise that in that survey, that prevalence survey, it wasn't just one in six recognised recognised they'd been abused, they regarded it as serious, significant. This is not being offended, this is not being talked to rudely. This is abuse."
EveryAge Counts e l'Age Discrimination Commissioner chiedono ai governi di istituire una giornata di sensibilizzazione ufficialmente riconosciuta sull'invecchiamento, di creare una campagna educativa nazionale per sfidare gli stereotipi nonché di sradicare l'ageismo nella pubblicità.
Fitzgerald afferma che entro 20 anni gli australiani con più di 65 anni saranno circa 9 milioni, circa il doppio di quelli attuali.
"We have a chance to plan. We have a chance to do things differently. We have a chance to do things differently. We have a chance to shape Australia in a way that doesn't see ageism become the racism and sexism that is entrenched in the Australian population."
Sempre più australiani entrano nella terza età più sani, più ricchi e vivono più a lungo.
Ma molti soffrono ancora di stress finanziario e abitativo.
E per le persone appartenenti a comunità culturalmente e linguisticamente diverse, il problema può essere estremo.
Fitzgerald afferma che la vergogna nel denunciare gli abusi sugli anziani complica il problema.
"Most importantly, in a culturally diverse Australia, we need to have regard to First Nations and culturally diverse communities. We have to stop making public policy by white middle aged men and women, for white middle aged men and women. I don't live in that world."
Secondo gli esperti, i dati sull'ageismo sono ancora carenti.
La Commissione australiana per i diritti umani pubblicherà la prossima settimana un nuovo rapporto che esamina il modo in cui i media influenzano la percezione delle persone anziane.
Inglese
Invisible and voiceless.
They're feelings many Australians describe experiencing, due to ageism.
For 79-year-old Robin, ageism is rife - from her time in the workplace, to everyday encounters.
"People just look upon older people as old. I've been described as old quite often recently. 'You're an old person.' ...I think that younger people see us as a burden, like vampires sucking the economy dry, is the way we are perceived."
Robin says she's been asked socially to consider voluntary assisted dying, that getting a dog at her age is irresponsible and had friends denied healthcare due to their age.
You only have to look at free screening services where you receive something in the mail saying it's time for your breast screen or your bowel screen, or whatever screen... They all end when you turn 70 or 75, because we as older people are going to die of something... So, are we dispensable?"
Like Robin, Merilyn, who decided on her 70th birthday to pursue an acting career, says she has experienced ageism.
"They look at older people different, and whether it's pursuing a career in something else, or whether they're looking for another job. But forgetting that-- bearing in mind that older people have had a lot of life experiences. And those experiences contribute to the community."
Earlier this year, she featured in filmmaker Andrea Seno's award-winning film 'Merilyn'.
The theme of the 'Life In Pictures' competition aimed at reflecting a positive lens on ageing in the community.
"I think the younger generation are starting to realise that media and the possibility of telling stories is a valuable option. So, they can grow some sort of sensibility of letting older people teach them something."
While age-based discrimination at work is illegal in Australia, advocates say laws alone are not enough.
Dr Marlene Krasovitsky is a spokeswoman for EveryAGE Counts.
"The Elder Abuse study in 2021 empirically confirmed, that the more ageist we are, the more likely we will condone elder abuse. And the more ageist we are, the less likely we are to recognise elder abuse."
Age Discrimination Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald says says elder abuse cannot continue.
"One in six older people over the age of 65 already identify as having been abused in the previous year. One in six. That's a huge number. And many of us also recognise that in that survey, that prevalence survey, it wasn't just one in six recognised recognised they'd been abused, they regarded it as serious, significant. This is not being offended, this is not being talked to rudely. This is abuse."
EveryAge Counts and the Age Discrimination Commissioner are calling on governments to establish an officially recognised Ageism Awareness Day, set up a national education campaign to challenge stereotypes and to eradicate ageism in advertising.
Commissioner Fitzgerald says within 20 years the aged population of Australia over 65 will be about 9 million, around double what it is today.
"We have a chance to plan. We have a chance to do things differently. We have a chance to do things differently. We have a chance to shape Australia in a way that doesn't see ageism become the racism and sexism that is entrenched in the Australian population."
More Australians are entering old age healthier, wealthier and living longer.
But many still suffer from financial and housing stress.
And for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, that problem can be acute.
Commissioner Fitzgerald says shame about reporting elder abuse, complicates the issue.
"Most importantly, in a culturally diverse Australia, we need to have regard to First Nations and culturally diverse communities. We have to stop making public policy by white middle aged men and women, for white middle aged men and women. I don't live in that world."
Experts say data on ageism is still lacking.
The Australian Human Right Commission is set to release a new report next week, examining the way media shapes perceptions of older people.
