Population growth and geographic distribution

In 2016, people aged 55 years and over comprised approximately 30 percent of the population of the City of Greater Geelong. The number of people aged 55 and over is expected to increase by 68 percent between 2016 and 2041 (from approximately 72,000 to 120,000).

Growth in the number of older residents reflects the wider, rapid growth in our population, which is projected to increase by 64 percent between 2016 and 2041 (from approximately 240,000 in 2016, to 393,000 in 2041).^**

Community contribution

Older people make a significant contribution to the community socially and economically: they contribute to the local economy and promote economic sustainability; they provide assistance and care through volunteering and as informal carers; and contribute to civic life and community strengthening through ongoing participation in their local communities.

• Workforce participation: 28.7 percent of our older residents aged 55 and over are employed, with 33.7 percent in professional and managerial positions.
• Volunteering: In 2016, 20.5 percent of our population were engaged in volunteer work. Of the total volunteer population, 37 percent were aged 55 and over.
• Caring responsibilities: Older people play an important role as informal carers, with 15.1 percent of people aged 55 and over providing unpaid assistance to others. Of the total carers in our City, 45.5 percent were aged over 55.

The region’s natural environment and major events attract large numbers of older people for tourism and recreation.

Diversity

Our residents aged over 55 have diverse characteristics.

• Gender: 45.7 percent of our population aged over 55 are men. Women live longer than men, and account for 71.4 percent of centenarians in our region.
• Country of birth: 16.3 percent of residents aged over 55 were born overseas. The top five birth countries are England, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, and Croatia. 10.1 percent of residents over 55 were born in countries where English is not the main language.
• Main language: 10.6 percent of our residents speak a language other than English. The main languages of our older residents who are not fluent in English include Croatian; Italian; Macedonian; Greek; Polish; Spanish; Russian; Serbian; Ukrainian and Bosnian.
• Indigenous: Approximately 0.5 percent of our population aged 45 and over identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, or both. National figures show one in five Indigenous Australians (21%) aged 50 and over were removed from their families as part of the Stolen Generation (AIHW, 2021).
• LGBTIQA+: Current national estimates put LGBTIQA+ people as representing 11 percent of the population. LGBTIQA+ people are likely to be represented by at least the same proportion in older populations (AHRC, 2022).

Gendered Impacts of Ageing

The evidence shows that the experience of ageing is gendered. For example:

• Women live longer than men (WHV, 2017), and as a result, women are more likely to live with multiple chronic health issues (WHV, 2017).
• Single older women have less superannuation (WHV, 2017).
• More older women live alone (WHV, 2017).
• Older women are more likely than men to be living in residential aged care and are the majority of those suffering from dementia (WHV, 2017).
• Women more likely to suffer from intimate partner violence (WHV, 2017).
• Elder abuse is gendered, with women more likely to be victims (AHRC, 2021).
• Homelessness is an issue for older women and single women escaping family violence (AHRC, 2021).
• Women generally have more social networks than men (Pate, 2014).
• Older men are more likely to experience social isolation (Pate, 2014).
• Men are less likely to have physical health checks (Smiley, 2022).

Additional needs for other diverse groups:

1. cultural concepts of ageing might differ from universal concepts in caring for others, aged care, living at home for longer, social isolation etc (Vauclair, C et al, 2017).
2. Trans and gender diverse older people are also at risk of elder abuse (WHV, 2017).
3. Trans and gender diverse older people may fear additional discrimination and harassment when accessing health and aged care (WHV, 2017 and AHRC, 2021).

Social and economic disadvantage

Many older people in our City face a number of barriers affecting their health and wellbeing.

• Need for assistance: Approximately 12.6 percent of our older residents aged over 55 require assistance. The requirement for assistance increases to 45.4 percent for residents aged 85 and over.
• Income: In 2016, 57.6 percent of our population aged 55 and over received an average weekly income of $499 or below. Approximately 5.1 percent received no income. In 2020, 64.7 percent of our residents aged 65 and over were on the Age Pension (PHIDU, 2021).
• Geography: There are areas within our region requiring greater levels of support. The areas with the highest level of socio-economic disadvantage include: Norlane; North Shore; Whittington; Corio; South Geelong; Thomson; and Breakwater.
• Housing: 24.5 percent of the population aged 55 and over lives in a lone person household. Older women, and pensioners who are renting, are at increased risk of homelessness.