By Cameron Weston
THE skills shortage has led employers to look overseas when recruiting, but one local woman says there is an untapped pool of highly skilled people right here in Australia.
And they are ready, willing and able to work.
Madeline Ellis believes older professionals – those in their 40s, 50s and 60s – have the education, training and wisdom needed to make it in the workforce, but are consistently passed over because of their age.
Ms Ellis, frustrated that she couldn’t find work after taking time out to care for a family member, recently decided to do something about the situation, forming Mature Professionals Out of Work (mPOW) in Hobsons Bay.
The group was established in September to support the municipality’s older professionals and speak up for them.
“We have people in our group who have master’s degrees and PhDs who just can’t get work and we believe that age is a significant factor,” Ms Ellis said.
“Employers often disguise the decision and say that you haven’t got the relevant experience.
“Nobody is foolish enough to say, ‘Well, actually, we are looking for a younger person’ – it is a breach of anti-discrimination laws.”
Dr Bruce Watson is a member of mPOW who knows the frustration of trying to break back into the workforce after being retrenched in 1999.
He said joining mPOW had been a positive and therapeutic experience.
“You realise that you’re not the only person who has had to face this type of thing,” he said.
Dr Watson found that getting an interview – let alone a job – was almost impossible, despite his impressive resume.
“It certainly wasn’t due to any lack of skill or education,” he said.
“You can be viewed as overqualified, but that is really just an excuse not to hire you.”
There are many myths about older workers among employers, Dr Watson said, including them being more expensive, less productive, and ‘higher maintenance’.
But these did not pay due credit to the life experience that older people could bring to a position.
He eventually gave up on waiting for an openminded employer, and formed his own business, an option not always available to older professionals.
Government support for older people looking for work is also limited, so many fall through the cracks and are left without any support network – a key motivation in establishing mPOW.
“Many older people also don’t meet the Centrelink assets test because they have been financially responsible in the past or have a spouse or partner still working,” Ms Ellis said.
And the bank balance is not the only thing that can suffer when older people strive to re-enter the workforce.
“For people in this age group who are finding that they can’t get a job, they are often struggling with self-esteem issues and occasionally this leads to depression. It really is a terrible situation,” Ms Ellis said.
“The group is designed to show people that it is not their fault, it is the system, and that there are other people out there who have been in the same situation and got through it.”
The next mPOW meeting will be held at the Louis Joel Centre, Sargood Street, Altona, on Monday, 11 December at 10am.
For more information call Madeline Ellis on 0409 712 003 or email pow_mellis@yahoo.com.au
