Welcome to Embolden
Embolden is a National Festival (congress, symposium, art based events) focused on combating ageism and building respect for older people. Our goal is to build the capacity and confidence of service providers, policy makers, community leaders and older people to accelerate the pace of change. The annual Festival, an initiative of Celebrate Ageing Ltd brings key stakeholders together to learn from each other and develop resources that accelerate the pace of change. This page outlines the 2026 Festival and maintains a record of past Festivals.
The Embolden2026 Festival: A BluePrint on Respect for Older People
Mapping the possibilities and exploring culture change.
This year’s theme BluePrint on Respect for Older People explores ‘what works’ in respect for older people. Respect is one of the World Health Organisation’s eight domains of an age friendly world, and arguably the foundation of all domains - and the most difficult to achieve.
The BluePrint (design or plan) recognises promoting respect for older people is complex change, requiring a socioecological approach, or exploring change at every level of society. The BluePrint also involves an Appreciative Inquiry, or making improvements by identifying and strengthening ‘what works’. The development of a template for a BluePrint on Respect for Older People will guide Celebrate Ageing to develop learning activities and kits for local champions to map how respect works and can be strengthened in their community.
To aid the BluePrint, Celebrate Ageing’s Dictionary of Gerontism (ageism for older people) will lead an inquiry into use of the term ‘boomer’, including ‘boomer blaming’, and identify strategies to promote more respectful use of the term.
The BluePrint (design or plan) recognises promoting respect for older people is complex change, requiring a socioecological approach, or exploring change at every level of society. The BluePrint also involves an Appreciative Inquiry, or making improvements by identifying and strengthening ‘what works’. The development of a template for a BluePrint on Respect for Older People will guide Celebrate Ageing to develop learning activities and kits for local champions to map how respect works and can be strengthened in their community.
To aid the BluePrint, Celebrate Ageing’s Dictionary of Gerontism (ageism for older people) will lead an inquiry into use of the term ‘boomer’, including ‘boomer blaming’, and identify strategies to promote more respectful use of the term.
Registration
The Embolden Congress and Symposium are free and hosted online to enable wide participation. Registration through Humantix is free, or you are invited to pay a registration fee if you can afford it (suggested amount $20-$50). Please note, you need to register separately for Symposium (link coming soon) and the Webinar (link coming soon).
2026 Aims
The aim of Embolden2026 is to help participants map the possibilities on respect for older people and explore culture change. To achieve this the festival will engage participants in:
- Clarifying what respect means to older people
- Helping to shape a template for a BluePrint on Respect for Older People, that will map actions demonstrating respect level of society
- Raising awareness of ageist language and strategies to combat it and protect against it.
2026 Program
- BluePrint Symposium online (7th October, 1-4pm): the free online Symposium begins by outlining the value of a BluePrint on Respect, demonstrating examples, particularly respect for Elders in Aboriginal culture and then engaging participants in identifying what a BluePrint could or should include.
- Boomer Blaming - Citizen Research (June-Sept): in June, an invitation will be circulated to all Australians to help document usage of the term Boomer in popular culture. The Citizen Research will kick start with online briefings for interested groups and individuals, dissemination of a template for documenting examples and information on protection against ‘boomer shaming’. Thematic analysis of the examples will inform a webinar and resources, including media guidelines, protection against internalised gerontism (Boomer shaming), and an academic publication
- ‘Boomer Blaming’ – Webinar (8th October 2-4pm): This webinar will summarise the findings of the Citizen Research (and other research) on use of the term ‘Boomer’ and share draft media guidelines and strategies for protection against ageism.
2026 Partnership opportunities
Embolden would not be possible without the support of our partner. As a Charity, Celebrate Ageing values the financial support to cover costs of hosting the event - this helps us ensure Embolden is as accessible as possible, with low cost or fee events. We are very grateful to the support of over 30 partners to date (see list below) and encourage you to read the prospectus on supporting Embolden2026 here.
Previous Festivals
Please read about the previous festivals or click the links below for:
Evaluation
Embolden was launched in 2018, with an event at the St Kilda Town Hall and repeated the following year. We returned in 2023, after a Covid enforced break, with an event in rural Victoria. Since then we have moved online to ensure our events are as accessible - with a shift from 450 people at live events to over 900 online. Our events attract a mix of delegates, mostly service providers (60%), community leaders and older people.
Evaluation of the event has consistently shown scores of 6+ out of 7 for usefulness, relevance, new learning and practical application. Read more about each evaluation on the Festival legacy pages.
Evaluation of the event has consistently shown scores of 6+ out of 7 for usefulness, relevance, new learning and practical application. Read more about each evaluation on the Festival legacy pages.
Previous partners
We are grateful to all the organisations and services who supported our past events, including Elder Rights Australia, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Older Person's Advocacy Network (OPAN), Compass, Australian Association of Gerontology, ADA Australia, The Older Women's Network NSW, QueerSpace Drummond St, Council on the Ageing, City of Port Phillip's Older Persons Consultative Committee, the National LGBTI Health Alliance's Silver Rainbow LGBTI Inclusive Ageing and Aged Care, the Victorian Government through their Multicultural Festivals and Events Program, Elder Abuse Action Australia, Communities of Respect, The City of Port Phillip, Alfred Health and Caulfield Health; The City of Ballarat; The Care Page; The National LGBTI Health Alliance; Hammond Care Dementia Centre; Seniors Rights Service; Switchboard Victoria; The Ageing Revolution; Aged Care Matters; Better Place Australia; Meaningful Ageing; Bayside City Council; Glen Eira City Council; Knox City Council; and COTA Victoria.
Contact us
Please contact curator Dr Catherine Barrett on 0429 582 237 or email: [email protected]
