The Age Positive Communication Toolkit helps fight ageism by promoting respectful and inclusive communication about older people.
The Toolkit provides easy templates and resources to fight stereotypes and promote positive views about ageing and older people.
Age Positive Communication Toolkit - for the community
There are many ways to tackle ageism in your community.
Older people and their allies can challenge it immediately or think about how to respond, including writing a response.
The resources below can help you recognise ageism and take action.
Responding to ageism (PDF 129.8 KB)
Age Positive Communication Toolkit - for organisations
Organisations with older staff or those serving older people should use mindful language and images in all their materials.
Whether it is internal communication or public-facing content like media releases, website text, and images, age-positivity should always be a priority.
Here are some resources to support organisations communicating with older people.
Media releases
Media release template (PDF 33.0 KB)
Media release template guide (PDF 109.5 KB)
Editorial / opinion piece
Editorial/opinion piece template (PDF 32.6 KB)
Editorial/opinion piece template guide (PDF 110.8 KB)
Language
Language checklist (PDF 261.0 KB)
Diversity
Images
Image guidelines (PDF 391.6 KB)
Creative design
Creative content checklist (PDF 108.7 KB)
Age Positive Communication Toolkit - for media
Media and popular culture strongly influence how people view older adults.
Using images and language that link ageing with frailty, sickness, and inability reinforces negative stereotypes. Instead, highlight the experience and valuable contributions of older people.
Use the resources below to ensure your narratives and images are neutral or positive, not diminishing.
Other useful resources for Age Positive Communication
Find additional resources that provide information. strategies and practical guidelines on how to effectively communicate with and about older people and avoid ageism in communication.
Research and strategies to combat ageism
The Australian Human Rights Commission: Age Discrimination provides a publication called What's age got to do with it? A Snapshot of ageism across the Australian lifespan which gives an overview of age discrimination throughout different stages of life in Australia.
Centre for Ageing Better (UK) provides a guide - Challenging ageism: A guide to talking about ageing and older age.
The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI): Changing the way we think about ageing provides a report on Vision for Ageing Well in South Australia (2020).
The World Health Organization (WHO): Ageism provides a Global Report on Ageism.
Communication - conversation, language and images
Centre for Ageing Better (UK) has a guide called Challenging Ageism: A guide to talking about ageing and getting older to help people talk about getting older and age discrimination.
Changing the Narrative: Ending Ageism Together provides Guidelines for Age Inclusive Communication.
EveryAGECounts provides Practical tips to respond to ageism and conversation starters.
National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) provides an Age-Positive Language Guide.
Government resources
Government of South Australia
A Guide to Age Friendly Services gives practical advice on how to effectively interact with older people.
Office for Ageing Well has developed a guide for facilitators called Bystander Action for Ageing Well.
National and International
The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) has guidelines for talking effectively with older adults.
Queensland Government: an age friendly community provides an Age-friendly toolkit to foster the creation of age friendly communities.
The Southern Melbourne Primary Care Partnership, now part of the South East Public Health Unit, has a guide called Framing Age Message Guide. This guide helps people understand how to talk about ageing in a positive way.
This Chair Rocks, created by Ashton Applewhite, a helpful resource Who Me, Ageist? which explains how to start a group to raise awareness about ageism.
Old School is a collection of information and tools about fighting ageism.
The World Health Organization (WHO): Ageism provides two resources Initiating a Conversation about Ageism which helps people start discussions about age discrimination and why it's important to address it. A quick guide to avoid Ageism in communication gives tips on how to talk and write about older adults in a respectful way, avoiding stereotypes and negative language.
Disability
Image libraries
Unsplash is a free high-quality image from independent photographers around the world.
Getty Images Disrupt Aging Collection: This collection, partnered with AARP, charges for photos. Some images may not look Australian, but they can still inspire.
The Centre for Ageing Better Image Library is a free UK-based photo library.