Biography
Marlene Krasovitsky is currently the Campaign Director, Older Australians, with The Benevolent Society (TBS). Prior to joining TBS in September 2016, Marlene was the Director of Willing to Work, the National Inquiry into Employment Discrimination Against Older Australians and Australians with Disability with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). This Inquiry was led by The Hon. Susan Ryan AO, former Age and Disability Discrimination Commissioner.
The Willing to Work Inquiry held over 120 consultations in metropolitan, regional and remote locations to speak with older people and people with disability about their experiences of employment discrimination and their ideas for change. The Inquiry also engaged extensively with employers and business associations to better understand the barriers and opportunities, and to gather evidence of good practice.
Prior to the Willing to Work National Inquiry, Marlene was the Director of Research with the AHRC’s Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force, and subsequent Cultural Reform Program, supporting Elizabeth Broderick AO, former Sex Discrimination Commissioner.
Marlene has worked in Commonwealth and State Government in a range of executive, policy and operational roles and also worked on the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW.
Marlene is currently undertaking PhD studies with the School of Government, University of Sydney. Marlene holds an Executive Masters of Public Administration (ANZSOG), a Masters of Business Administration (University of Technology, Sydney) and is a registered psychologist.
Krasovitsky, M.
Workshop
How do you feel about getting older – and does it impact on what you do?
Drawing from research and the key elements of Every Age Counts – the Australian campaign to tackle ageism, this workshop will explore ways in which ageist assumptions and stereotypes influence and underpin policy, practice and public discourse. The impact of ageism on people’s own internalised attitudes and expectations of themselves will be explored in order to bring about a shift in social norms and affect policy and practice.
Goal
The goal of this interactive workshop will be to gain insights into how we feel about getting older; our fears, what we are looking forward to and what we associate with ageing. We will then explore how these, often deeply embedded, assumptions and beliefs influence our work and our decisions.
Objectives of the workshop
- To identify the ways in which our own assumptions and beliefs may impact on our professional practice and spheres of influence.
- To identify the ways in which ageist assumptions and stereotypes influence and underpin policy, practice and public discourse.
- To draw from research and the key elements of EveryAGE Counts – the Australian campaign to tackle ageism, to explore the levers and means by which to bring about a shift in social norms to affect policy and practice.
- To examine campaigns which have successfully changed social norms and identify the elements of success.
Skills/new learning
Using tools of self-reflection, interactive discussion in small groups and scenarios, participants will learn:
- To identify and challenge ageist assumptions and beliefs
- Introductory skills of campaigning and models of organising/mobilising.
