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Embolden 2025

Embolden is Australia's only National Festival (Congress, Symposium, Art/Fashion event) dedicated to combating ageism and building respect for older people. Established in 2018, our aim is to build the capacity and confidence of service providers, policy makers, community leaders, older people and everyone who works with or for older people, to accelerate the pace of change.

The Embolden Congress and Symposium will be hosted on-line in 2025 to enable wide participation. To further promote accessibility, registration will be free - with the option for participants to contribute if they are able to. The exhibitions and art-based activities will be hosted in several locations around Australia.

​Click on link below for information on partnerships - registration, program and presenter information coming soon. 

Theme: Ageism Across Generations; Same, Same - But Different 

The #Embolden2025 Festival theme Ageism Across Generations; Same Same - But Different explores the ageism experienced by older people by examining commonalities and differences across generations and other factors that create marginalisation - such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexuality, origin, ability and economic status. We aim to:

  • Clarify how gerontism (ageism experienced by older people), differs from youthism (ageism experienced by younger people)
  • Explore how a focus on sameness and commonalities can be a foundation for building connection and reducing marginalisation 
  • Demonstrate the power of intergenerational activities to engage multiple generations and whole communities in tackling ageism and other forms of marginalisation.
 
The theme recognises the problems of ageism are compounded by other inequalities such as discrimination, social isolation, loneliness, mental health challenges and financial hardship. An understanding of this complexity is critical to successful change.  

Program

The #Embolden2025 Festival includes The Congress of Older People’s Voices from The Margins, a Symposium and Exhibitions.
 
Congress
  • Date/time: Wednesday 1st October, 1.00 - 4.00pm
  • Location: online
  • Details: The Congress of Older People’s Voices from The Margins creates opportunities to hear from older people from marginalised groups to build better understandings of ageism, marginalisation and strategies for change.
 
Symposium
  • Date/time: Thursday 2nd October
  • Location: online
  • Details: The Symposium proposes that while ageism is experienced across the lifespan, the root causes, manifestations and impacts differ with age – as must the strategies for change. To achieve this shift, gerontism is presented as a form of ageism, alongside existing forms such as youthism. We propose gerontism as more nuanced and exact use of language that can enhance the effectiveness of policy and practice to combat the ageism experienced by older people.
 
Exhibitions
  • Date: 1st October - 1st November
  • Location: tbc
  • Details: Join us as we take older models, intergenerational kindness and children’s stories to the streets for a series of immersive experiences that transform community spaces into galleries.

Registration 

Registration for the Congress and Symposium is through Humantix. Registration is free, or you are invited to pay a registration fee if you can afford it (suggested amount $20-$50). There is one registration - but you need to choose whether you are attending one event or both. A separate zoom link will be sent for Congress and for the Symposium. Registration link (coming soon)

Past Festivals

Please go to the Embolden webpage (here) to read about the previous festivals or click the links below for:
  • Embolden 2024 - The [un]Silencing of Older Women (here)
  • Embolden2023 - Words Make Worlds (here)
  • Embolden2019 - You, Me, Us (here) 
  • Embolden2018 - Inaugural festival (here)

Evaluation

Embolden was launched in 2018 (here) with an event at the St Kilda Town Hall - repeated the following year (here). 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. 

Previous partners

We are grateful to all the organisations and services who supported our past events. This includes 2023: Thankyou to Elder Rights Advocacy, our Principal Partner. Other partners include the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Older Person's Advocacy Network (OPAN), Australian Association of Gerontology, ADA Australia, The Older Women's Network NSW, QueerSpace Drummond St and Council on the Ageing. 2019: Thankyou to our primary sponsor: The Department of Health, and other partners: the ​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, Older Person's Advocacy Network, Elder Rights Advocacy, Elder Abuse Action Australia, and Communities of Respect. 2018: including 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]

Embolden Partners

coming soon