1. Hallmark Ageing Research Initiative Seeding Grant Attitudes to age in Australia
Professor Peter Gahan
Dr Joshua Healy
Dr Raymond Harbridge
Dr Ruth Williams
Monica Pham

2. Attitudes to age in Australia
Progress to date:
Ethics approval
Survey developed & conducted
Research Assistant hired
Preliminary analysis
Draft report
Conference presentations x 2

3. Survey
Three ageism scales (FSA, SIC, SCM) + respondent demographics (sex, age, location, emp. status, education, NESB)
1000 participants, aged yrs, across Australia
Sample representative of the in-scope population
By sex and age (20% <30yrs; 45% 30-50yrs; 35% >50yrs)
By State and metro/non-metro (34% non-metro)
Some over-sampling of those not employed (esp. if older)
Completion by phone (55%) or online (45%)

4. SIC scale
Succession, Identity and Consumption scale (SIC) (North & Fiske, 2013)
Three sub-dimensions:
Succession – ‘Most older people don’t know when to make way for younger people.’
Identity – ‘Older people shouldn’t even try to act cool.’
Consumption – ‘Older people are too big a burden on the health care system.’

5. Overall SIC sub-scale (scale 1-6)
Fieldwork by Wallis Market and Social Research Data collected from May to July 2016
Contact initiated by Wallis via random digit dialling Completion either by phone (55%) or online (45%)

6. SIC – Means of the 20 Items (scale 1 – 6)

7. Differences by age (scale 1-6)
Fieldwork by Wallis Market and Social Research Data collected from May to July 2016
Contact initiated by Wallis via random digit dialling Completion either by phone (55%) or online (45%)

8. Differences by gender (scale 1-6)
Fieldwork by Wallis Market and Social Research Data collected from May to July 2016
Contact initiated by Wallis via random digit dialling Completion either by phone (55%) or online (45%)

9. Differences by Education level (scale 1-6)
Fieldwork by Wallis Market and Social Research Data collected from May to July 2016
Contact initiated by Wallis via random digit dialling Completion either by phone (55%) or online (45%)

10. Conclusions & Implications
Few Australians hold resolutely ageist views
Even fewer actively shun or avoid older people
Far more hold succession-based ageist views
Higher if: male, younger, NESB, not employed
Evidence of intergenerational tension
Perception older Australians not relinquishing control of ‘enviable resources & societal positions’ quickly enough
Closely tied labour market (& housing?) opportunities
Paradox of older workers feeling shut-out & disadvantaged

11. Next steps – further analysis
The strength of ageism within the three scales
Multi-factor differences (e.g. age & gender)
Differences between on-line & telephone answers
Whether the age composition of postcodes affect attitudes?
Do attitudes about age shape behaviours towards older workers in recruitment and at work? e.g. task assignment, team formation, access to flexible work arrangements, succession planning etc.

12. Next steps
Targeted conference paper for the Academy of Management Conference (by early Jan 2017)- if accepted then submission to Academy Journal
Report by Feb 2017
Visiting International expert, Michael North Feb 2017
ARC linkage grant application June 2017 – focus on attitudes to age in the workplace

13. Thank you