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Core 2: Groups in context
Researching community groups
Aged
The Australian population has been ageing since the early 1970s, and this trend is expected to continue for at least the next 50 years. The annual rates of population increase for the aged projected for the period 1976 to 2016 are significantly higher than for the overall population, with rates of increase highest among the very old. Twenty years ago, 9% of the population (or 1.3 million people) was aged 65 years and over. By 1996, this figure had increased to 12% (2.2 million) and by 2016 it is projected to increase to 16% or 3.5 million people. In 1976, one in six older people was aged 80 and over; by 1996 it was one in five and by 2016 it will be one in four. This increase in the number of aged people in Australia is of particular relevance with regard to planning for health services and long-term care.
(Source: Australia’s Health
1998, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare)
The transition to being aged is often accompanied by substantial changes to people’s health, living arrangements and financial circumstances. Increasingly, however, there is recognition that older people make a large contribution to the community, the family and our society.
To understand more about the aged, go to the web site Educational Resource on Ageing 
particularly the facts section of the web site. The web
site of the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home
Care also has relevant information.
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Complete the following tasks.
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