World Seniors Day: Honouring and Supporting Our Older Australians – By Sam Fernando
Source : Dæhæna – August 2025
World Seniors Day, celebrated on 21 August, is a significant occasion dedicated to honouring the contributions, wisdom, and resilience of older adults across the globe. In Australia, where approximately 17% of the population is aged 65 and over, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the value seniors bring to families, communities, and the nation as a whole. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the challenges they face and the responsibilities society holds in ensuring their dignity, inclusion, and well-being.
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Seniors should be considered a vulnerable group due to increasing physical frailty, declining mental health, social isolation, and financial insecurity. Many live alone, with over 1 in 4 Australians aged 65+ experiencing loneliness. These issues are often compounded for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) seniors, such as those of Sri Lankan origin living in Australia. Many of them migrated later in life to join children, often with limited English proficiency and minimal opportunities for employment or community involvement. As a result, they are more prone to social isolation, loneliness, and depression.
To address these issues, community-based initiatives play a crucial role.
One such valuable initiative is the Seniors Group, affiliated with the Sinhala Association of Queensland. The Seniors Group provides a vital support network for older Sri Lankans, helping them age with dignity
and connection. It organises regular monthly meetings that offer both social interaction and educational value. These gatherings often include talks by qualified professionals on topics relevant to seniors, empowering members with knowledge to make informed decisions. In addition to educational content, the group promotes emotional well-being through musical events, cultural celebrations, and excursions, all of which foster a sense of belonging and joy.
Such programs not only reduce loneliness but also encourage active aging—where seniors remain physically, socially, and mentally engaged. This is a key aspect of aging with dignity, which means living later life with respect, independence, and purpose. Aging with dignity also involves access to quality health care, meaningful relationships, and participation in community life. Organisations like the Seniors Group are instrumental in achieving this goal by tailoring their services to the cultural and emotional needs of their members.
On World Seniors Day, we are reminded of the immense value seniors bring to our society—and of our responsibility to ensure that their final decades are lived not in isolation, but in dignity, connection, and pride. Supporting culturally inclusive services and recognising the work of groups like the Seniors Group is an essential step toward a more age-friendly Australia.
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Sam Fernando
Convener, SAQ Seniors Group
