1 October is the United Nations International Day of Older Persons (IDOP). On this day we celebrate the important and valuable contributions that older people make in our community, as well as hearing directly from Older South Australians about their ageing experience and highlighting challenges they face to ageing well.
Ageing well isn't about staying the same, it's about growing into who you will become
Natasha Stott Despoja AO, keynote speaker at our 2025 IDOP celebration event
2026 International Day of Older Persons
We were delighted to celebrate the 2026 International Day of Older Persons on 30 September with our free annual event, centred on the theme Making the ageing experience better, together.
Officially opened by the Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well, The Hon. Katrine Hildyard MP, the event brought together 250 older South Australians to hear from five inspiring speakers who shared their experiences of navigating some of life's biggest transitions. Through personal reflections on loss, caregiving, retirement, family responsibilities, new love and reinvention, they demonstrated that ageing well takes many different forms and that every ageing journey is unique.
A highlight of the day was the opportunity for guests to reflect on the stories they had heard and discuss what inspired them most, creating a strong sense of connection, shared experiences and optimism in the room.