Celebrating International Day of Older Persons

1 October 2026

On 1 October, we mark the International Day of Older Persons, an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the knowledge, experience and contributions that older people bring to our families, communities and workplaces.

This year's theme, The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives, is a chance to reflect on ensuring that older people feel valued and safe, and can fully participate in the community regardless of age. 

We encourage everyone to take this opportunity to celebrate the older people in their lives.

Today is also a chance to raise awareness, share information, and reflect on how we can support older people to remain connected, informed and included. This might include:

  • taking the time to listen and create opportunities for older people to be heard
  • supporting older people to make decisions about their own lives
  • checking in regularly and helping older people stay connected to family, friends and community
  • sharing information about rights, supports and services
  • acknowledging and celebrating the work of local organisations, volunteers and community groups that support older people
  • speaking up when ageist attitudes or behaviours are seen or heard.

“In the ACT the Human Rights Commission helps keep older people safe through our work in vulnerable person complaints matters,  preventing and addressing abuse, mistreatment, neglect of adults with a disability or any person 60+ in the ACT,” ACT Discrimination Commissioner Karen Toohey said.

“The Commission also convenes the ACT Elder Abuse Prevention Network, started by the Council of the Ageing ACT, with key stakeholders like Legal Aid, Police, ACT Ambulance Services and representatives from ACT government agencies and key community stakeholders.

“ACT agencies now have a positive duty under the ACT Discrimination Act to take steps to eliminate discrimination from service delivery and workplaces, including addressing age discrimination.

“From April 2027 that duty will apply to private organisations, employers and service providers in the ACT, requiring them to also take steps to eliminate discrimination, including age discrimination, from workplaces, service delivery and other areas of public life covered by the Discrimination Act,” Commissioner Toohey said.

Response to the Board of Inquiry’s final report into the ACT Criminal Justice System

We acknowledge the Board of Inquiry’s important work in facilitating public discourse about the criminal justice system.
Translating rights into child and youth-friendly language

Jodie and her team are currently visiting schools across the ACT to talk to students about human rights.
Commission welcomes pathway for human rights complaints

The Commission welcomes the introduction of legislation that provides for a new accessible complaints pathway about alleged breaches of human rights by public authorities in the ACT.
Specialised legal support for sexual assault victim-survivors welcomed

Victim Support Act and Women’s Legal Centre ACT have been selected to jointly run one of  three pilots across Australia, to provide a specialised and trauma-informed legal service for sexual assault victim-survivors.
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