The annual event, which will be held at the Adelaide Festival Centre on Tuesday, 1st of October, aims to spark conversation around the importance of intergenerational relationships and explore how social connections are essential pillars of living well at every age.
Renowned Australian journalist, Geraldine Doogue AO, is this year’s keynote speaker. With a long career and enviable reputation across print, television and radio journalism, Geraldine has established herself as one of the country’s most respected journalists. She is currently co-presenter of the ABC RN program Global Roaming. In her keynote address, Geraldine will reflect on intergenerational connections, drawing on experiences from her life and distinguished career.
Geraldine will also be joined by a diverse panel of speakers who will initiate conversations that reflect on the positive intergenerational relationships and discuss how people can do more both individually and as a community to strengthen social connection across generations, for everyone’s benefit.
Panellists include 2024 SA Senior Australian of the Year, Sister Meredith Evans, artist, curator, writer and educator, Nici Cumpston, Rainbow Hub SA Chair, Peter Jones, and Hindu community leader, Rajendra Pandey.
In 1990, the United Nations classified 1 October as the International Day of the Older Persons (IDOP), to celebrate the contributions that older people make in the community and to raise awareness of the need to combat ageism by challenging stereotypes and prejudices that drive discrimination.
COTA SA Chief Executive, Miranda Starke, says IDOP is COTA SA’s flagship event and provides a platform to highlight the positive opportunities and possibilities of ageing and to come together to challenge ageism.
“It is inspiring to see the conversations that come out of our IDOP event each year and the positive impact that it has on older South Australians. They often walk away with a newfound optimistic perspective on ageing. It is an empowering, feel-good celebration for what it means to age well,” Miranda said.
“This year, we are excited to be exploring an intergenerational theme and for the first time, encouraging our guests to bring a younger person in their life to the event.
These days, we often see different generations pitted against each other in the media, but this doesn’t reflect how most people feel about the older or younger people in their lives. We want to create this opportunity to talk about how all ages learn from and support one another – and the role we can all play as individuals and as a collective to change conversations and damaging ageist stereotypes between generations,” Miranda concluded.
COTA SA’s ‘Meaningful Connections at Every Age’ IDOP event is now sold out, however, the community is encouraged to join in on the conversation with their peers.
