Aussie push for UN convention for older people

THERE are conventions to protect the rights of women, children, refugees and those with disabilities but not older people. This Brisbane man wants to change that.

BallyCara CEO Marcus Riley will take part in an open-ended working group debating the need for a United Nations convention for older people. Picture: Chris Higgins.

THE risks facing older people are growing by the day and the absence of a convention to protect them is an omission Marcus Riley is determined to rectify when he heads to United Nations headquarters next week.

The chief executive of BallyCara retirement village at Scarborough will be part of a nine-person working group of UN member nations. They will debate the need for a convention, identify the issues facing older people and report to the general assembly.

Mr Riley, 40, of Kedron, flies out on Saturday and formal meetings start on Monday.

He said the needs of older people varied around the world and it was vital to recognise the risks they faced and the contribution they could make to society.

“Most regions are experiencing the same sorts of challenge and circumstance around the ageing populations but no one particular country has got all the answers to that, and we need to learn from each other and we need to exchange our innovations and lessons learned,” he said.

“So, a convention could create awareness, obviously,” he said. “It would ensure that there are some minimum standards across all regions of the globe in terms of what older people should expect and should have.”

Mr Riley said the risks facing the growing number of people aged over 80 in Australia included elder abuse, poverty and homelessness.

The week-long gathering is not expected to result in a decision on a convention, but Mr Riley said he hoped one would be made in the next 12 months.

“Hopefully we get some traction in terms of generating greater support from all nations and really create some momentum for this convention to be supported and drafted, and ultimately adopted and applied across the globe,” he said.

“Personally I would like to see a decision through 2017. I would anticipate it would take a series of meetings and actions throughout the first part of next year and ideally we would see a decision in the next 12 months.”

BallyCara CEO Marcus Riley with residents Maureen Richardson and Rowena Crooks. Picture: Chris Higgins.

He was appointed as the chairman of the Global Ageing Network in January, a role he said stemmed from his a genuine interest in sharing ideas and experiences around the world.

He said it was an honour to be asked to represent the Global Ageing Network and BallyCara at the UN.

And BallyCara residents have been giving him advice ahead of his trip to New York.

“That’s certainly one of the joys of my current role,” he said.

“I do get to tap into the wisdom and knowledge of older people on a daily basis and certainly I will leverage that in discussions and activities at the UN.”

The wisdom of older people is something he has valued since he was mowing lawns and pulling weeds at the retirement village as a 17-year-old.

“There’s unparalleled knowledge and wisdom that this generation have and it’s really our failing if we don’t tap into that knowledge,” he said.