Our Story
Celebrate Ageing Ltd was established in 2013 by Dr Catherine Barrett, and became a Charity in 2019. Please read more about who we are on the page below.
Vision
For Celebrate Ageing to be leaders in dismantling the ageism experienced by older people and in building a society where ageing is recognised as a privilege to be celebrated, and where all older people are valued and respected.
Mission
Our mission is to build a movement dismantling ageism and building respect for older Australians at all levels of society.
Values
- Empowerment: supporting older to empower themselves and supporting a national network of leaders promoting change
- Creativity: translating evidence into culture change through art and narrative-based approaches that engage Australians in leading change
- Partnership: fostering meaningful partnerships that amplify the effectiveness of and accelerate the pace of change
- Equality: raising awareness of the experiences of marginalised older people and promoting their inclusion, equality and equity
- Authenticity: valuing our own ageing and the older people we work with and live with
- Evidence based: drawing on the available evidence to underpin everything we do and working to expand the knowledge base on empowering older people, challenging ageism and effective strategies for change.
Our approach
Our innovative programs bridge the evidence-culture gap through art and narrative based approaches. At the heart of our work is the Elder Leadership Academy, which recognises older people's capacity to co-lead change.
Evidence-Culture Gap
For over a decade Celebrate Ageing Ltd has been investigating what it takes to bridge the gap between what we know (The Evidence) about ageism and the (Culture) change needed. We know this enormous task requires a critical mass of people. We also know working with Early Adopters or champions is a powerful way to kick start change. We utilise art and narrative based approaches to open the hearts and minds of The Majority and work hard to ensure Marginalised older people are included - and that marginalisation is prevented. These approaches enable us to build a national networks of champions for change - a critical component of sustainable culture change.
For over a decade Celebrate Ageing Ltd has been investigating what it takes to bridge the gap between what we know (The Evidence) about ageism and the (Culture) change needed. We know this enormous task requires a critical mass of people. We also know working with Early Adopters or champions is a powerful way to kick start change. We utilise art and narrative based approaches to open the hearts and minds of The Majority and work hard to ensure Marginalised older people are included - and that marginalisation is prevented. These approaches enable us to build a national networks of champions for change - a critical component of sustainable culture change.
Empowering older people
The Elder Leadership Academy is at the heart of Celebrate Ageing. The Academy offers Fellowships to older people to co-lead projects combatting ageism and building respect for older people. We believe consultation, representation, co-design and co-production all have a place - but older people have the skills to co-lead and should be given every opportunity to do so. The outputs and outcomes achieved by the Fellows demonstrate the wisdom of this approach. We greatly value the opportunity to work in meaningful partnership with older people - particularly from marginalised groups.
The Elder Leadership Academy is at the heart of Celebrate Ageing. The Academy offers Fellowships to older people to co-lead projects combatting ageism and building respect for older people. We believe consultation, representation, co-design and co-production all have a place - but older people have the skills to co-lead and should be given every opportunity to do so. The outputs and outcomes achieved by the Fellows demonstrate the wisdom of this approach. We greatly value the opportunity to work in meaningful partnership with older people - particularly from marginalised groups.
The work we do
The work of Celebrate Ageing includes 9 programs, Old is Beautiful, The Dictionary of Ageism, BluePrint on Ageing and Respect for Older People, The Centre for Intergenerational Power, The Kindness Pandemic, the Museum of Love, Older Women Count and the OPAL Institute. Our work also includes an education program and calendar of events - including Embolden, our annual Festival accelerating the pace of change.
The work of Celebrate Ageing includes 9 programs, Old is Beautiful, The Dictionary of Ageism, BluePrint on Ageing and Respect for Older People, The Centre for Intergenerational Power, The Kindness Pandemic, the Museum of Love, Older Women Count and the OPAL Institute. Our work also includes an education program and calendar of events - including Embolden, our annual Festival accelerating the pace of change.
Awards and achievements
- 2023 Victorian Honour Roll of Women, Trail Blazer (Dr Catherine Barrett)
- 2022 Most Uplifting Facebook Group in the World (The Kindness Pandemic)
- 2022 Probono Australia Impact 25 Award (Dr Catherine Barrett)
- 2020 Globe LGBTIQ Person of the Year (Dr Catherine Barrett)
- 2019 GLOBE Award for Promoting Healthy Communities
- 2019 Australian Association of Gerontology Glenda Powell Travelling Fellow (Dr Catherine Barrett)
- 2018 Australian Human Rights Medal Finalist (Dr Catherine Barrett)
