The Pensioner

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Union creates Victoria’s most powerful seniors lobby

Consumer organisations, National Seniors Australia and ARPA Over-50s, have combined membership to become Victoria’s largest and most powerful seniors lobby.

The union, which received unanimous support from the ARPA membership, will boost National Seniors’ Victorian numbers from the current 40,000 to over 50,000.

National Seniors Australia chief executive, Michael O’Neill, says such a strategic coupling can only benefit the burgeoning baby boomer demographic.

“Over half Australia’s adult population is aged 45-plus - they expect more in the second half of their lives and they’re demanding to be heard.

“Combining memberships to form one powerful voice means older Australians are in a much better position to lobby government on their issues and negotiate stronger commercial deals,” said O’Neill.

Former ARPA Over-50s chief executive, Arnold Bates, will now head up National Seniors’ Victorian operations.

“The voice of the over-50s in Victoria has just increased significantly” says Bates.

“We’ll challenge, and work with, the state government as never before on issues ranging from interstate travel concessions to age friendly communities and rising living costs,” he said.

“Sharing the resources of both organisations means we can do more and do it more effectively – it’s a very exciting time for us,” said Bates.

An example of existing congruencies between the two groups pre-merger lay in tackling mature age unemployment - National Seniors through its research and lobbying efforts, and ARPA Over-50s in the practical employment solutions offered via its Working Connections program.

- Contributed

With 300,000 members National Seniors (Est. 1976) is Australia’s largest consumer organisation for the over-50s and fourth largest group of its kind in the world.

ARPA Over-50s was formed in 1998 with the merger of Australian Retired Persons Association (Est. 1954) and Over Fifties Focus (Est. 1995).