Comment
Benefits start to flow from a healthy partnership
with Brian Shakes, Over 50s Association
The Over 50s Association Board has thought all along that significant benefits would flow to our members and all older Australians from the alliance we formed last year with four State COTAs. And a few months down the track that is proving to be the case.
The initial focus of the COTA Over 50s Alliance, which was launched last October, is in the policy development and advocacy area, and I have to say I am delighted with the progress made at our most recent two-day alliance conference.
Over 50s Association hosted the presidents and executive directors from each of the Alliance COTAs at a two-day conference here in Melbourne in early February.
Our work in decision-making on policy direction for the 2007 Federal Budget and the next State and Federal elections built on recommendations from a two-day workshop of policy officers held just prior to the conference. This active and enthusiastic group is ably supported, as are the Alliance decision-makers, by the national policy executive, Gayle Richards.
Gayle is very experienced as a government advisor and government affairs consultant, and knows her way around the corridors of Canberra as well as around policy development.
Over 50s will continue to take the running on two key policy issues – Mature Age Employment and Retirement Incomes. The service we traditionally offer in both these areas, as well as the experience of the staff and volunteers who provide it, means these are two areas where we can make a strong contribution.
That’s one good news item for this month. Another is that we have opened our Sydney workingconnections office, which is on the same floor of the Pitt Street building which houses COTA NSW. We have our alliance to thank for facilitating our use of this prime Sydney site.
Judy Cole, the manager, knows all about the mature age employment market – from both sides. She ran her own recruitment agency for many years, and has recently been going through the process she calls "reinventing myself."
Next month – an update on progress with both our policy push and our new service.
• Brian Shakes is chief executive officer of ARPA Over 50s Association.
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