Population growth and the significant shift occurring in its structure towards older ages will, over the next two decades, raise a whole host of policy and practice concerns for governments, institutions, business, communities, and individuals in many nations around the world.
For the most part national governments have been slow to respond strategically, in terms of policy and practice, to the issues these trends connote in ways that see enhanced economic outcomes (productivity, return on investment, infrastructure, service provision, etc), greater social inclusion, higher levels of health and well-being, and sustainable outcomes generally.
This paper argues that engaging an ageing population in processes of lifelong learning, particularly with a focus for initiatives at the local and regional community level, a lifecycle approach to learning, and through joined-up government, will positively address many of the emerging issues of this ‘new demographic’.
The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on various aspects of an ageing population in society and the economy in relation to these three thrusts, discusses good practice initiatives where there are positive approaches towards an ageing society where lifelong learning is being actively pursued, and suggests a policy approach to build greater momentum. While there is some focus on the Australian situation, there are many examples drawn from around the world such as the Finnish concepts of ‘workability’ and ‘employability’ in age management.
The suggested policy approach comprises strategic, facilitative and practical action in each sphere of government, as well as across and between governments; research that focuses on the long run benefits of adult and community learning for an active ageing population; policies that address barriers and impediments to institutional responsiveness, particularly education; generally raise awareness; harness ICT in supporting a learning agenda for an ageing population; and others.
Importantly, the paper identifies the need to move lifelong learning and its connection with an ageing population into mainstream macroeconomic policy agenda to ensure that key policy instruments (eg taxation, subsidies, program provision, etc) support relevant institutions and communities. All these policy questions are worthy of further exploration and the paper gives us a very good starting point for this to occur.
