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Enhancing the Health and Employment Participation of Older Workers

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Ageing in Australia

Part of the book series: International Perspectives on Aging ((Int. Perspect. Aging,volume 16))

Abstract

The ageing of the Australian workforce has raised concerns about economic sustainability and prompted government polices to encourage longer working lives. However, the effectiveness of these policies is limited by a focus on individual workers rather than the organisations employing them. This chapter examines the strengths of older workers, the specific challenges they face and the implications of both for policy reform. It demonstrates that challenges concerning mental health, training and the ‘design of work’ demand stronger policy intervention if employment is to be effectively prolonged. The concept of ‘work ability’ is introduced as a framework for incorporating organisational considerations into policy development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Suite 16.01, Level 16, 6 O’Connell Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia

    Jack Noone

  2. Ageing, Work and Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cumberland Campus, 75 East St, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia

    Jack Noone

  3. Ageing, Work and Health Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Cumberland Campus, East Street, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia

    Philip Bohle

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  1. Jack Noone
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Correspondence to Jack Noone .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ageing, Work and Health Research Unit Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Lidcombe, New South Wales, Australia

    Kate O’Loughlin

  2. ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia

    Colette Browning

  3. ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR), University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia

    Hal Kendig

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Noone, J., Bohle, P. (2017). Enhancing the Health and Employment Participation of Older Workers. In: O’Loughlin, K., Browning, C., Kendig, H. (eds) Ageing in Australia. International Perspectives on Aging, vol 16. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6466-6_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6466-6_8

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