1.5 Investigate the impact of an ageing population on Australia’s health
About the dot point
Australia’s ageing population reflects a long-term shift in the nation’s age structure, as the proportion and number of people aged 65+ increases and the 85+ group grows most rapidly. This demographic change matters for Australia’s health because older age groups are more likely to experience multi-morbidity, disability, and complex long-term conditions, which increases demand for health services, aged care, and prevention strategies that support healthy ageing.
How to approach it
In this dot point, the directive verb is investigate, which means to plan an inquiry, examine evidence and examples, and then draw conclusions. You need to use relevant data, case material, and trends to inquire into how population ageing is changing Australia’s health needs, service demand, and long-term health system sustainability, rather than simply describing the topic from memory.
1. What does the data tell us?
The data show a clear long-term trend: Australia’s population is ageing. The proportion of people aged 65 years and over is increasing, and this older age group is expected to make up a larger share of the population in the future. The 85 years and over age group is also growing, which is important because the need for health and care support usually increases more sharply in the oldest age groups.
This trend is happening mainly because life expectancy has increased and fertility has declined. More people are living into older age, while fewer births over time mean younger age groups make up a smaller share of the total population. As a result, Australia has a larger number and proportion of older people than in previous decades.
This matters for health because older age groups are more likely to experience chronic disease, multi-morbidity, disability, frailty, and dementia, even though many older Australians still report good health and remain active and independent. An ageing population therefore increases demand for healthcare, aged care, rehabilitation, medicines, and community support. This means population ageing is not only a demographic trend. It is also a major issue for health planning, service delivery, and long-term system sustainability.
Example: If a community has a much larger proportion of people in their seventies, eighties, and nineties than it did twenty years ago, it will usually need more home care, more chronic disease management, more allied health, and more aged care support than before.
2. What is healthy ageing?
Healthy ageing is more than simply living longer. It is about developing and maintaining the ability to live well in older age, including being able to move safely, make decisions, stay connected to others, and continue doing things that matter. This means healthy ageing is not the same as being completely free from disease. Many older Australians live with conditions such as arthritis, type 2 diabetes, or cardiovascular disease, but can still age healthily if those conditions are well managed and they maintain mobility, independence, participation, and quality of life.
Healthy ageing depends not only on the person, but also on the environment around them. Safe housing, accessible transport, social connection, timely healthcare, and opportunities to remain active and involved all affect how well people age. Healthy ageing also begins earlier in life, not only in old age, because long-term behaviours, prevention, education, work, housing, and access to care all shape later health. This is why healthy ageing matters for both the individual and the wider health system. When more people remain well and independent for longer, there is generally less demand for high-cost care such as avoidable hospital admissions, prolonged rehabilitation, and earlier entry into residential aged care.
Example: Two people may both have arthritis at age 75. One has safe footpaths nearby, good pain management, access to exercise, and supportive relationships, so they remain mobile and independent. The other has poor access to services and becomes housebound. This shows that healthy ageing depends not only on the diagnosis, but also on the support and environment around the person.
3. What are the opportunities and challenges for an ageing population?
An ageing population creates both challenges and opportunities. The overall impact depends on whether Australia can support healthy ageing, meaning people are able to remain as independent, active, connected, and well as possible for longer. If more people live longer with preventable decline, unmet care needs, or social isolation, pressure rises across healthcare, aged care, community services, and government spending. If more people remain healthy, connected, and able to contribute, older Australians can continue strengthening families, communities, and the economy.
3.1 Opportunities
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Longer workforce participation |
Some older Australians remain in paid work, part-time work, consulting, or mentoring roles for longer. This can help retain skills, reduce labour shortages, and support productivity. As population ageing reduces the proportion of people in the main working-age years, healthy older adults who stay in suitable work can help reduce some of the economic pressure linked to ageing. Some examples of what this could look like include part-time work, consulting roles, casual teaching, mentoring apprentices, and flexible workplace arrangements. |
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Volunteering, caregiving, and mentoring |
Older Australians often contribute through volunteering, caregiving, and mentoring. They are not only receivers of support. They also provide care, guidance, and practical help to families and communities. This can strengthen local services, support family life, and help older people maintain routine, purpose, and social connection. Some examples of what this could look like include helping with grandchildren, volunteering in community groups, coaching junior sport, supporting neighbours, and mentoring younger workers. |
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Stronger community and social participation |
When older people remain healthier for longer, they are more likely to stay socially connected, physically active, and involved in community life. This benefits the individual through better wellbeing and confidence, and it benefits the wider community through stronger relationships, greater participation, and less dependence on intensive services. Some examples of what this could look like include joining walking groups, attending community programmes, volunteering regularly, participating in social clubs, and remaining active in family life. |
3.2 Challenges
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Greater demand for healthcare and aged care |
As the number of older Australians rises, so does the number of people living with chronic disease, multi-morbidity (two or more long-term conditions), disability, frailty (reduced strength and resilience), and dementia. This increases demand for both healthcare and aged care, including GP care, specialist appointments, hospital treatment, rehabilitation, home care, respite, and residential aged care. It also increases the complexity of care, because many people need long-term support from several services at once. Some examples of what this could look like include more GP visits, more hospital treatment, longer home care waiting times, greater need for dementia support, and increased demand for residential aged care. |
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Workforce shortages |
Population ageing also creates workforce shortages, especially as growth in the main working-age population slows. A larger older population increases the need for GPs, nurses, geriatricians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, aged care workers, home support workers, and other care staff. If there are not enough trained workers, care can be delayed, workloads increase, and access becomes harder, especially in rural and regional areas. Some examples of what this could look like include difficulty recruiting aged care staff, fewer local specialists, longer waiting times for services, and more pressure on existing workers. |
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Social isolation, carer pressure, and loss of independence |
Some older Australians experience loneliness, bereavement, reduced mobility, transport problems, or difficulty getting to services. At the same time, families and friends may face growing pressure to provide unpaid care. These issues are linked because isolation, lack of support, and poor access can all speed up decline and increase reliance on formal services. Some examples of what this could look like include missing appointments because there is no transport, needing earlier home support after stopping driving, carers becoming overwhelmed, and older people becoming housebound because the environment is not age-friendly. |
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Economic pressure on systems |
Population ageing also creates economic pressure for governments and support systems. Costs rise for hospitals, Medicare, medicines, aged care subsidies, home support, and income support such as pensions, while growth in the tax-paying workforce is slower. This means ageing is not only a health issue. It is also a system sustainability issue. Some examples of what this could look like include higher public spending on aged care, greater demand for pensions and subsidies, more funding needed for hospitals and medicines, and stronger pressure to invest in prevention instead of relying only on crisis care. |
4. What are current and future strategies to support healthy ageing?
Many strategies for healthy ageing are already being used, but they will need to be strengthened as Australia’s population continues to age. In this table, current means strategies already in place now, while future means strategies that will need to be expanded, improved, or developed further.
Example: A current strategy might be a local falls prevention class run through a community health service. A future strategy would be expanding that approach so more older adults can access it earlier, in more locations, with stronger links to GPs, physiotherapists, and home support services.
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Current strategies |
Future strategies |
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Prevent decline |
Prevent decline by using prevention and early intervention to reduce falls, frailty, unmanaged chronic disease, and avoidable hospital admissions. This is reflected in the National Preventive Health Strategy 2021–2030:
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Expand prevention across the lifespan so more people reach older age in better health. This could involve:
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Support independence |
Support independence at home and in the community through home care, transport, and age-friendly environments. This is reflected in Support at Home and Ageing Well in NSW: Seniors Strategy 2021–2031: |
Increase support for ageing in place so more older people can remain safe and independent for longer. This could involve:
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Keep people connected |
Keep older people connected and participating through social inclusion, volunteering, learning, and community involvement. This is reflected in Ageing Well in NSW: Seniors Strategy 2021–2031: |
Strengthen social participation and inclusion so fewer older people experience loneliness, disconnection, or exclusion. This could involve:
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Strengthen the workforce |
Strengthen the workforce so health and aged care services can meet current demand safely and effectively. This is reflected in current aged care reforms and workforce measures: |
Grow and sustain the workforce so services can meet rising demand in the future. This could involve:
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Technology |
Improve systems by using technology, digital health, planning, and better coordination to make care more connected and efficient. This is reflected in the Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy 2024–2029: |
Expand digital health and system coordination carefully so services work together more smoothly without creating new barriers. This could involve:
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5. What do government and non-government agencies need to consider to address the future needs of a growing and ageing population?
Meeting the future needs of a growing and ageing population requires more than simply adding more services. Different agencies need to think carefully about what older Australians need, what barriers exist, and how support can be delivered effectively, safely, and fairly. This includes health and aged care, but also housing, transport, workforce planning, accessibility, cultural appropriateness, social connection, and the rights and dignity of older people.
FYI – An easy way to remember is:
Government sets up and runs the system; non-government supports people through the system (and plugs the gaps).
5.1 What do government agencies need to consider?
Government agencies play a major role in responding to population ageing because they are responsible for planning, funding, regulation, and large-scale service delivery. Their decisions shape how effectively Australia can respond to the growing number of older people and whether older Australians can remain healthy, independent, and supported over time.
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Health and aged care |
Government agencies need to consider whether the healthcare and aged care systems can cope with rising demand. A larger older population means more people living with chronic disease, multi-morbidity, frailty, and dementia, so more long-term care, support, and specialised services are needed. Examples of ways they could do this include:
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Workforce |
Government agencies need to consider whether there will be enough nurses, GPs, geriatricians, allied health professionals, aged care workers, and home support workers to meet future demand. Even when funding exists, care can still be delayed if there are not enough qualified staff. This is often a bigger issue in rural and regional areas, where shortages are already more severe. Examples of ways they could do this include:
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Housing, transport, and community design |
Government agencies need to consider whether housing, transport, and public spaces support older people to remain active and independent. Even manageable health conditions can lead to faster decline if the environment makes movement and participation difficult. If older people cannot leave the house safely, attend appointments, or access community life, they may lose independence more quickly and become more reliant on formal care. Examples of ways they could do this include:
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Prevention and ageing well |
Government agencies need to consider how policy can support healthy ageing earlier and more consistently. Preventing or delaying decline can reduce later pressure on hospitals, rehabilitation, emergency departments, and residential aged care. Prevention is therefore not only good for the individual. It is also a practical way to reduce long-term system pressure. Examples of ways they could do this include:
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Technology, planning, and coordination |
Government agencies need to consider how technology, long-term planning, and system coordination can improve support for older Australians. Older people often move between hospitals, GPs, specialists, allied health, aged care, and community services. If these services do not work well together, the risk of repeated assessments, medication errors, delayed follow-up, and avoidable hospital readmissions becomes much higher. Examples of ways they could do this include:
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5.2 What do non-government agencies need to consider?
Non-government agencies play a different but equally important role because they often provide direct support, strengthen community connections, advocate for older people, and respond to local gaps in services. This means they need to consider what older people need in everyday life, how to make services accessible and culturally appropriate, how to reduce isolation, and how to work with other organisations to improve support. Their role is especially important in helping older Australians remain connected, informed, respected, and as independent as possible within their own communities.
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Support services |
Non-government agencies need to consider what support older people need in everyday life to remain as independent as possible. Many older people need more than medical treatment. They also need practical support that helps them live safely and confidently in their own homes and communities. Examples of ways they could do this include:
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Rights and advocacy |
Non-government agencies need to consider how they can advocate for the needs, rights, and interests of older people. Some older people find systems confusing, difficult to navigate, or unfair, so non-government agencies often act as a voice for older people and help ensure that policy and services respond to real needs. Examples of ways they could do this include:
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Connection and community |
Non-government agencies need to consider how their programmes can reduce loneliness and support social inclusion. Healthy ageing depends on more than treatment. It also depends on belonging, routine, purpose, and meaningful relationships. Social isolation can lead to poorer mental health, lower physical activity, and faster decline, so community support is an important part of healthy ageing. Examples of ways they could do this include:
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Access and cultural respect |
Non-government agencies need to consider whether their services are easy to access and appropriate for different groups of older people. Support is only effective when people can actually use it. Older people may miss out if services are too hard to reach, too expensive, too digital, or not respectful of their language, culture, family structure, or care preferences. Examples of ways they could do this include:
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Research, new ideas, and working together |
Non-government agencies need to consider how they can improve services through research, innovation, and partnerships with other organisations. Ageing populations may need more flexible and varied support over time, so agencies that test new approaches and work closely with others are often better able to respond to gaps in care and changing community needs. Examples of ways they could do this include:
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Brief Summary
About the dot point and how to approach it
- Australia’s ageing population reflects a long-term shift in the nation’s age structure, as the proportion and number of people aged 65+ increases and the 85+ group grows most rapidly.
- This demographic change matters for Australia’s health because older age groups are more likely to experience multi-morbidity, disability, and complex long-term conditions, which increases demand for health services, aged care, and prevention strategies that support healthy ageing.
- The directive verb is investigate, which means to plan an inquiry, examine evidence and examples, and then draw conclusions.
1. What does the data tell us?
- Australia’s population is ageing as the proportion of people aged 65 years and over increases, and the 85 years and over age group grows.
- This trend is happening mainly because life expectancy has increased and fertility has declined.
- Older age groups are more likely to experience chronic disease, multi-morbidity, disability, frailty, and dementia, increasing demand for healthcare and aged care.
2. What is healthy ageing?
- Healthy ageing is developing and maintaining the ability to live well in older age, including mobility, independence, participation, and quality of life.
- Healthy ageing is not the same as being completely free from disease, and it depends on the person and the environment around them.
- Healthy ageing begins earlier in life, and when more people remain well and independent for longer, there is generally less demand for high-cost care.
3. What are the opportunities and challenges for an ageing population?
- An ageing population creates challenges and opportunities, and the overall impact depends on whether Australia can support healthy ageing.
- Opportunities include older people remaining active, connected, and contributing through suitable work, volunteering, caregiving, and mentoring.
- Challenges include greater demand for healthcare and aged care, workforce shortages, social isolation and carer pressure, and economic pressure on systems and long-term sustainability.
4. What are current and future strategies to support healthy ageing?
- Current strategies already in place and future strategies that need to be expanded focus on preventing decline, supporting independence, keeping people connected, strengthening the workforce, and improving systems and coordination.
- These will need to be strengthened as Australia’s population continues to age.
5. What do government and non-government agencies need to consider to address the future needs of a growing and ageing population?
- Agencies need to consider what older Australians need, what barriers exist, and how support can be delivered effectively, safely, and fairly across health and aged care, housing, transport, workforce planning, accessibility, cultural appropriateness, and social connection.
- Government agencies play a major role in responding to population ageing because they are responsible for planning, funding, regulation, and large-scale service delivery across:
- health and aged care
- workforce
- housing, transport, and community design
- prevention and ageing well, and
- technology, planning, and coordination.
- Non-government agencies often provide direct support, strengthen community connections, and advocate for older people through support services, rights and advocacy, connection and community, access and cultural respect, and improving services through research, new ideas, and working together.