The large majority of mature aged workers have done no career planning despite the likelihood of working longer and in new jobs, a recent national survey has found.
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As the ACT government revealed budget plans to increase the senior's card eligibility from 60 to 65, the organiser of a career check-up expo said the National Seniors Australia findings encouraged those in the second-half of their career to plan for the job ahead.
IRT Foundation community programs co-ordinator Peter Brady, 68, a former senior public servant, said as people lived longer they needed earlier work planning for "encore" careers.
"Somebody at 45 years old needs to think now is this job something I can continue doing well into my 60s, if it's not do I need retraining, a change of direction, put more super in?" he said.
The national survey findings, published in February, found four out of five of the plus-50s surveyed had either never undertaken career planning (57 per cent) or not done so in the last three years (22 per cent). For those who did, three-quarters found it useful.
The foundation combined with the ACT government and Australian Human Rights Commission to set up their first career check-up expo in Belconnen on June 29.
Those aged 45 and above can attend and complete an online career quiz, which will highlight their qualities and the values they bring to a job.
"They would then speak to professional career advisers for about 20 minutes, who would then direct the attendees to exhibitors, such as employment agencies and financial advisers, and they can have an initial conversation and if they want to they can make an appointment," Mr Brady said.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced on Tuesday that senior's card eligibility would rise from age 60 to 65 by 2025. The eligibility for the national age pension will be 67 by 2023.
ACT Council on the Ageing executive director Jenny Mobbs said the rise in the seniors' card age showed a clear expectation people were going to work for longer.
She said COTA supported the careers check event, but it was important there was ongoing interest in the wellbeing of those who were trying to find jobs in a highly competitive economy.
COTA had helped five of a group of 20 long-term unemployed over-50s get work within five weeks as part of program training them to get a job.
"A lot of these people have had so many knockbacks, they've been retrenched from the public service and then their self-esteem, if they're not in the workforce the next day, they just go downhill, that's the part we've had to mend," she said.
The IRT Foundation is the charity arm of the IRT Group, who own the Kangara Waters retirement village at Belconnen.
The free expo will be held from 10am to 2pm on June 29 at the University of Canberra's Ann Harding Centre.
QUICK FACTS
- 79 per cent said they had never undertaken career planning or had not done so in the last three years
- 77 per cent said they were not at all likely to undertake career planning in the next three years
- 67 per cent of those who had done career planning found it very or somewhat useful
Source: National Seniors Australia survey of those aged 50-plus
