Register for Ageism Awareness Day Online Launch Event
Ageism Awareness Day will be launched at 10am (AEDT) on 7 October with an online launch event, and we'd love for you to join us!
EveryAGE Counts are beyond excited to welcome Ita Buttrose AC, OBE as our special guest for the Ageism Awareness Day panel discussion. Ita Buttrose is a truly exceptional Australian: a legendary media trailblazer, businesswoman, best-selling author, committed community and welfare contributor and former Australian of the Year. In 2019 Ita became a Companion of the Order of Australia for her service to the community through leadership in the media, the arts, the health sector and as a role model.
We’re honoured and so grateful to welcome Ita Buttrose and we hope you can join us for this momentous event. Ita Buttrose will be joining our panel alongside Robert Tickner and Colin Maddocks, and Dr Marlene Krasovitsky will be facilitating the discussion with our wonderful guests. Please take a look at our speakers bio's and make sure you register below to join the conversation!
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Ita Buttrose AC, OBE
Ita Buttrose AC, OBE, is a truly exceptional Australian: a legendary media trailblazer, businesswoman, best-selling author, committed community and welfare contributor and former Australian of the Year. In 2019 Ita became a Companion of the Order of Australia for her service to the community through leadership in the media, the arts, the health sector and as a role model.
Current work:
Ita is Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She balances this high-profile role with charitable responsibilities, including serving as National President of Alzheimer's (now Dementia) Australia from 2011- 2014 and is now the organisation's Patron. In addition, she has been Patron of the Macular Disease Foundation since 2005 and is Emeritus Director of Arthritis Australia, having served as President from 2003-2006. In 2019 Ita was chosen as a Shero Barbie, one of a collection of 20 Barbie Dolls that globally recognise female role models and achievers.
Previous experience:
Media: Ita was the founding editor of Cleo, the youngest ever editor of The Australian Women's Weekly, the first woman to ever edit a major metropolitan newspaper in Australia as Editor-in-Chief of the Daily and Sunday Telegraphs, and the first female director of News Ltd Australia. She has hosted primetime shows on radio and television.
During her distinguished media career, she has held executive and editing roles for major Australian media companies, including Australian Consolidated Press, News Ltd and Fairfax, and has run her own media company, Capricorn Publishing, and created ITA Magazine, a magazine for the woman who wasn't born yesterday.
In 2011, her earlier career was immortalised in the acclaimed ABC mini-series 'Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo'.
Ita was inducted into the Australian Media Hall of Fame in 2017.
Author: Ita has written 11 successful books, including her best-selling autobiography 'A Passionate Life'.
Awards: In 2018, Ita was conferred with the University of New South Wales' highest honour – an honorary doctorate in medicine in recognition of her eminent service to health, being an inspirational role model for aspiring women in business and making a difference in society. In 2015 she was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Wollongong for her contribution to mental health and ageing. In 2014 Sydney's Macquarie University conferred an Honorary Doctor of Letters on Ita to recognise her contribution to the arts. In addition, she was the Inaugural NSW Excellence in Women's Leadership award winner. (2014).
She received an AO in 1988 for her services to the community, especially in the field of public health education, when she spearheaded Australia's HIV/AIDS Education Program, an OBE for her services to journalism, and a Centenary Medal for business leadership. In 2019 Ita became a Companion of the Order for her service to the community through leadership in the media, the arts, the health sector and as a role model.
Robert Tickner AO, Co-Chair EveryAGE Counts
Robert is a Co-Chair of EveryAge Counts which is a national community based campaign to tackle ageism which involves stereotyping, discrimination and mistreatment of people based on their age see https://www.everyagecounts.org.au/
The campaign recognises that the impacts of ageism can prevent or limit us from contributing and participating in our communities – socially, economically and as full citizens – and even impact our physical health and longevity. As well as its individual impacts, ageism can also deny society the enormous range of benefits that can flow, economically and socially, from the full participation of older people. Robert believes that local Government has a leading role to play in maximising the full participation of older Australians in their communities.
Robert is a former Acting Under Secretary General of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation and the former Chief Executive of Australian Red Cross - a position he held from February 2005 to August 2015. Robert is also Australia’s longest serving Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and is very proud that he had the privilege to serve for 6 years as a councillor on the Sydney City Council including for a brief period as Acting Lord Mayor.
Robert holds Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Economics degrees and has undertaken the first stage of an Executive MBA. He has written two books. The first was “Taking a Stand” focussing on the politics of Indigenous rights and last year his second book “Ten Doors Down was published telling the story of his adoption reunion.
Colin Maddocks, EveryAGE Counts Advocate
From a very young age Colin learnt to overcome barriers. The oldest child of a large family he started work at a young age. Initially he learnt the trades of butchering and smallgoods making. After a lot of part time study, he worked as a technical trades’ teacher and educational manager in the fields of meat, baking, food science, travel and tourism in Adelaide. In 1990 he commenced working overseas as a technical training advisor in Indonesia for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He continued working overseas for resource companies in Indonesia, Africa and the USA. This involved establishing local construction and mining workforces. The work involved assisting locals gain worthwhile skills and employment – helping them overcome barriers to employment. Colin received a Chairman’s Award by the Board of Directors of Newmont Mining in 2005 for the model he developed. The model was recognised and adopted by several global mining companies thereafter.
Since finishing paid work in 2017 Colin has been an active volunteer for his community. He is an immediate past President of U3A Sunshine Coast and past communications officer for U3A Qld Network. U3A, or University of the Third Age, is a community organisation that promotes healthy ageing by sharing educational, creative, and leisure activities provided by their own members. In addition, Colin has done volunteer work for Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra and continues to assist the Maroochy River Golf Club. Colin sees examples of prejudice or discrimination towards elders in his community. He wants to influence positive change and see elders valued and respected for what they bring to their communities. He wants to see the barriers to healthy and positive ageing removed. He recently completed the EveryAGE Counts Advocates training and has actioned initiatives aimed at bringing about desired change.
Colin’s personal interests includes cycling, working out at the gym and playing golf.
Marlene Krasovitsky, Director and Co-Chair of EveryAGE Counts
Marlene Krasovitsky is the Co-Chair and Director of EveryAGE Counts with The Benevolent Society (TBS). EveryAGE Counts is Australia’s coalition and grassroots campaign to end ageism. Prior to this role, Marlene was the Director of Willing to Work, the National Inquiry into Employment Discrimination Against Older Australians and Australians with Disability with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).
Marlene was formerly Research Director with the AHRC’s Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force, and subsequent Cultural Reform Program.
Marlene has worked in Commonwealth and State Government in a range of executive, policy, and operational roles. She has a PhD from the University of Sydney, with a thesis on Royal Commissions. She has an Executive Masters of Public Administration (ANZSOG), a Masters of Business Administration (University of Technology, Sydney) and is a registered psychologist.