IFA Secretary General Dr Jane Barratt contributed the following to the most recent edition of Harmony magazine.  'Invictus' is a popular poem from the late nineteenth century by the English author William Ernest Henley.  Invictus, is the latin for 'unconquered' and the speaker in the poem proclaims his strength in the face of adversity.....' I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul."

Older people in every country of the world experience hardship and adversity each day - whether it is some developing countries such as Somalia where approximately 43% of Somalia's population live below the poverty line, and more pronounced in the rural areas than in the urban regions; or in the United Kingdom where 9 out of every 10 mature workers have experience age discrimination in seeking employment.  A report by the Age and Employment Network (TAEN), showed that 32% of respondents were degree educated and a further 23% had professional qualifications, with 67% feeling they had the right skills for today's labour market.

Older people are also a source of comfort, wisdom, safety and mentorship to mention just a few to people of all ages.  They are resilient, dependable, interested and insightful.  So over the course of this year not only will we be highlighting some of the latest in policy, practice and business developments but also the leadership of older people around the world.  Read the full article here...

Interested in coming to Melbourne this spring? If so, please keep in mind that Early Bird registration closes 4 February!  That's only a few days away!  A significant milestone has been reached in the planning of the IFA conference, being held 3-6 May 2010 in Melbourne, Australia.  Already, over 600 papers have been accepted, including symposia and workshops, and cover a wide range of topics. The conference seeks to expand our understanding and policy capacity in the key areas of climate change, human rights, social inclusion, healthy ageing and resourcing change.  As a preview, here are a few examples of presentations you can expect for each theme:

Climate Change - identifying the particular social problems facing older people in Asia and the Pacific Islands and the impact on their way of life and customs. The impact of global warming on seniors and how they can be part of the solution.

Human Rights - exploring the international discussion on a human rights covenant, many aspects of elder abuse including: preventative action, mediation, policy initiatives and financial protection.

Social Inclusion - with particular emphasis on gender, disability, sexuality, poverty and social isolation.

Resourcing Change - provides insight into the development of innovation in housing and aged care, financial implications of a growth in population, employment models and technology.

Healthy Ageing - is the most extensive component of the conference, including the place of exercise and activity in longevity, late life learning, systems change for healthy ageing, participation, health promotion, and seniors in leadership.

The Grassroots Outreach task force has completed the final report of the Survey on effective practices in social integration.  Social Integration in Action: Stories from the Grassroots  (now available on the IFA website) will be presented at the upcoming Commission for Social Development (CSD).   This report was commissioned by the NGO Committee for Social Development at the United Nations in advance of the 48th Session of the CSD, during which social integration will be the primary theme. 

Social Integration in Action presents a summary of responses to an international survey conducted in 2009.  Responses from 62 countries were gathered, and 14 case-studies of best practice for social integration are highlighted in the report.  These good practices embrace a wide range of populations, including people living in poverty, women, children, youth, older people, indigenous peoples, migrant populations, ethnic minorities, and people living with disabilities.

Among the interesting examples of organizations featured include the Miriam Center for Migrant Workers in South Korea work to assist women from foreign countries, chiefly Asia and Africa who come to Korea for marriage or to earn a living, by finding employment.  The Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul in Italy work closely with those who are deprived and marginalized and respond to needy persons throughout the country.  The International Movement ATD Fourth World in Bolivia strive to eradicate extreme poverty and social exclusion by encouraging societal change that promotes dignity and the fulfilment of human rights for all. More details are available in the report.

The social issues that members of the international community are working to overcome are many. As this report demonstrates, civil society organizations can positively contribute to achieving a 'society for all'.

Dr. Morris (Mickey) Milner, President and CEO of The Health Technology Exchange (HTX), today announced the investment of over $1.7 million towards the development of seven emerging medical technologies.  Now in its fourth round of funding, the Business Investment Program has invested over $4 million towards the program, since the pilot launched in 2006. The program is jointly funded by the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, through HTX and the Ontario Centres of Excellence Inc., and the National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program. Funding supports business driven R&D undertaken by a team from a recognized Ontario research institution in collaboration with a partnering company.  Please read the full press statement here.

Along with providing financial support to Canadian companies, HTX plays a big role in advocating on behalf of Canadian products and encouraging local health consumer to purchase Canadian products.  You can read this short article for a spotlight on Respan, or check out the HTX' blog - The Idea Exchange.

In fall 2009 , Commonwealth, State and Territorial Ministers gathered in Adelaide to explore new ways to work cooperatively toward improving opportunities for social inclusion among the most disadvantaged Australians.  Recent challenges like the global financial collapse have made social inclusion an even greater priority.  An inclusive society is one in which all Australians, young and old, rich and poor, feel valued and have the opportunity to participate fully in social and economic life.

Within their jurisdictions, the various Governments have made commitments ranging from education and employment, to local community renewal, mental health and disability reform and measures to increase social housing and reduce homelessness.  As an outcome of this meeting, all Governments agree to work collaboratively and use common principles to improve social inclusion outcomes, prioritising: children at risk, disadvantaged youth, jobless families and people living in remote areas.  More information on Australian experience with social inclusion can be found online here.

Although fall 2009 was the first time that a meeting of its kind on the subject, it will not be the last, as the Ministers agreed to meet again in he first half of 2010.  Further, Commonwealth and State Governments will be in attendance at IFA's 2010 Senior Government Officials Meeting in May this year, and there will be opportunities for even greater exploration of the Australian perspective on social inclusion. 

The experience of isolation or loneliness occurs in all human beings but it becomes a complex problem for older people.  Isolation is associated with a number of physical, social and psychological conditions.  Generally it is believed that older persons living alone feel most isolated.  But even older persons living with their families or spouses can also feel loneliness or isolation, particularly due to lack of social integration, less or no interaction amongst family members, and other reasons.

With quickly changing socio-economic scenarios in India, living conditions across the country are changing dramatically.  Many older persons are finding it very hard to cope with new socio-economic settings, and feelings of isolation with a sense of social marginalization is becoming a major issue.  The Research & Advocacy Centre at the Agewell Foundation (a consortium of over 1500 NGOs and 6500 volunteers spread across 540 districts of India, committed to initiate better interaction between generations and extend a helping hand) has recently carried out a nationwide survey to study and identify  and understand this emerging trend of isolation in their country.  A full report of their findings is now available, and you can access it here.