OSPO

New OPSO Media Awards category

OPSO — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:37:26 +0000

New Queensland-only award to be added to the OPSO Media Awards

CARNE REIDY HERD (CRH) Lawyers are adding a new dimension to Elder Abuse Week in June by sponsoring an award of $1000 to the Queensland journalist who submits the winning entry in either print or electronic media that, by its very nature, illustrates and condemns physical, mental, emotional, or financial abuse towards seniors.

The winner of this special Queensland award will be announced at the Older People Speak Out National Positive Ageing Media Awards function in November. Entries should be sent to Older People Speak Out, PO Box 1037, Mt Gravatt 4122.

We are grateful to Carne Reidy Herd (CRH) Lawyers for this special Elder Abuse sponsorship

People, especially family members or neighbours who are guilty of physically, emotionally or financially abusing older people deserve our strongest condemnation.

– Val French AM

Life Times updated

OPSO — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 05:01:28 +0000

We have just reprocessed all editions of Life Times so that hyperlinks work correctly and the pages will print at much higher quality. This process has meant that the files are only about a third larger, so that they will take a little longer to download, but they are much more usable.

– Grant Dobinson, Editor

ALRC inquiry into Age Barriers to Work

OPSO — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:05:15 +0000

The Australian Law Reform Commission’s ‘Age Barriers’ team wishes to alert people to the Discussion Paper and the fact that submissions are due on 23 November.

The Discussion Paper Summary provides an overview of the policy framework and the proposals and questions contained in the full Discussion Paper. It is designed specifically with stakeholders in mind, acknowledging the substantial involvement of many in the Inquiry to date, and the familiarity with the issues as set out in the Issues Paper released in May 2012. It provides the essential minimum for easy access to ALRC thinking, produced for stakeholders with considerable understanding of the various issues under review.

Grandparents Day – date change

OPSO — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 06:56:39 +0000

Grandparents Day has been changed from Sunday 5 November to Sunday 18 November.

If your school or community group is planning a Grandparents Day event, you can order posters and postcards and download certificates of recognition and template posters and media releases now.

Grandchildren and families can also get involved by doing something special to make their grandparent’s day. You could send your grandparents a special postcard or certificate, treat your grandparents to lunch, or just spend time together doing something you and your grandparents enjoy.

Go to the Grandparents Day website to access resources and read more ideas on how to celebrate Grandparents Day.

Latest BSOL News & Views issue out now

OPSO — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 07:01:37 +0000

The October 2012 issue of BSOL News & Views (Brisbane Seniors OnLine) is available now. In this issue:

From the President
BSOL October Happenings
From the BSOL Clubs
Estate Planning in the Computer Age
Out and About in the Community
Reducing Dementia
Hub Liaison Report
BSOL and Insurance
Switching to Mac
Scam Warning
Prophetic Statements Best Forgotten
AGM Notice
Website Changes
Brain Training
About Google
…and much more

OPSO 2012 Media Awards

OPSO — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 07:53:40 +0000

The OPSO 2012 Media Awards were held on 1 October at the Queensland State Library at Southbank. The night was a great success with the largest audience to date. The federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, the Hon. Mark Butler MP, along with the Ambassador for Ageing, Noeline Brown presented the winners with trophies and prizes. 2012 OPSO Media Awards results

A thank you to fellow journalists

OPSO — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 00:39:35 +0000

In 1993 I sent out an appeal to you journalists and media photographers and you responded. Commonwealth government research had shown that older people felt they were marginalised from the community.

Journalists, photographers and the newly formed Older People Speak Out met and decided to work together to find answers.

The answers were simple and they continue to work today.

We held our first Media Awards in 1994 to reward the media when they got it right about older people.

OPSO members travelled Queensland teaching individuals and organisations how to work with the media. We did this by conducting training classes to give older people the skills necessary to work with the media.

We also provided the media with good positive copy by opening Friday’s Night Club to older people for a wild night out that included seniors arriving on the backs of Harley Davidson’s, jitter bugging and dancing into the early hours.

We showed there was plenty of life in us yet!

The next morning you journalists responded with a fantastic coverage of older people in action.

Twenty years later we continue to believe that the partnership worked and is still working.

OPSO’s website has been established to continue this partnership. The idea is to inform you of any significant news, views and issues.

This is still a two-way street. Let’s continue the partnership.

Visit our website www.opso.com.au and go to the ‘Hot Topics’ tab.

Val French, President OPSO

Phone: (07) 3219 2572 Email: opso@zipworld.com.au Website: www.opso.com.au

Human Services, Family Assistance – replaces Centrelink and Medicare

OPSO — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:42:35 +0000

Centrelink and Medicare will now be one service called Human Services. Over the next months office space will be combined to house both these services under the one roof. In many cases, Medicare will move into Centrelink offices to save money in the upkeep and to utilize staff to streamline service with new systems that will combine information relating to all government payments for children, disabled, unemployed, and pensioners. It should also speed up Medicare claims.

There will be a new Human Services Web Site humanservices.gov.au.

This will provide a complete information site for all Human Services, even application forms for the Age Pension.

Concession Cards

All Human Services concession cards will be revamped.

From September 2012 new concession cards will start to be issued with slight colour changes and the new branding of the department. Most new cards will be issued when the present one has reached its expiry date. This includes Health Care Cards.

Information will be sent out to the public and businesses that give discounts to

Concession card holders, e.g. Transport companies, to prevent any kind of panic especially with older pensioners.

Sally Jones

National Convener

Older Women’s Network Australia

Pensioner Work Bonus

OPSO — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:40:01 +0000

Do you understand what this means?

The Work Bonus is an incentive for pensioners over age pension age to participate in the workforce. It reduces your assessable income by $250 each fortnight. If the Work Bonus is not used because you are not working or you earn under $250 in a fortnight, the unused amount will be added to your Work Bonus balance. The Work Bonus balance can be used to offset any future employment income you have. This means you can work for short periods with little or no effect on your pension. (e.g. seasonal work, fruit picking or Father Christmas, Government Elections etc.)

If you do not work, the whole fortnightly Work Bonus amount of $250 is saved and is added to your Work Bonus balance. Your Work Bonus balance can reach $6500.

The Work Bonus is not applied to income from: (1) Investments. (2) Self employed income. (3) Superannuation income.

How to get the Work Bonus? Let Human Services know about your gross earnings,

Your pension will not be affected until you have earned $6500 in any one year.

Sally Jones

National Convener

Older Women’s Network Australia

Cyber-Safety Committee launches on-line survey for seniors

admin — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:41:52 +0000

Federal parliament’s Cyber-Safety Committee has today launched an on-line Australian seniors’ cyber-safety survey. The aim of the survey is to find out what older Australians think about online services and to give all senior Australians the opportunity to tell the committee about their concerns and experiences using the internet.

The committee invites everyone aged 55 and over to take part in the Australian seniors’ cyber-safety survey. Participation in the survey is anonymous and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

The survey is part of the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety’s inquiry into cyber-safety for senior Australians. The committee’s report will make recommendations aimed at ensuring Australian law, policy and programs represent best practice for the cyber-safety of senior Australians. This includes consumer protection, financial security and protecting personal information, and the safe use of social networking sites.

Australians 55 and over are the fastest growing group of internet users but, according to the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association (ASCCA), they are still vastly underrepresented among internet users as a proportion of Australia’s overall population.

Committee Chair Senator Catryna Bilyk said: “The Committee’s brief is to investigate specific threats to the online security of senior Australians, and to consider what is needed to help older people over the growing ‘digital divide’ in society. The committee is of course aware that computer use varies among older people, as does their familiarity with cyber-safety issues. While many older Australians are very computer savvy – regularly using ‘skype’ to stay in touch with their grandchildren, or doing research online or a little blogging – many others are not confident about accessing the internet.”

“I hope many senior Australians will take the time to fill in the survey online, or print it out and return it to the Committee in hard copy. The views and experiences of all senior Australians, and those of their family and friends, will make this inquiry worthwhile.”

To take part in the survey or for information about the inquiry, please go to: www.aph.gov.au/cybersafety-seniors.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Media comment: contact the Committee Chair Senator Catryna Bilyk on
(02) 6277 3349 or mobile 0419 694 512.
Background: contact the Inquiry Secretary (02) 6277 4202