The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, has encouraged all Australians to nominate an older person who has given generously to others and made a significant contribution to society for the 2012 Senior Australian of the Year Award.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to recognise someone aged 60 years or over who has made a significant contribution to the welfare of our community,” Mr Butler said.

“Older Australians have seen off the challenges of the past and continue to play a very important role in preparing us to meet the challenges of the future.

“The Senior Australian of the Year Award is a highly prestigious achievement that showcases and celebrates the contributions of older Australians and recognises that many of our oldest citizens continue to make valuable contributions to our community.”

The 2011 winner, equal rights campaigner, Professor Ron McCallum AO, fervently pursued equal rights across the country and was widely regarded for his leadership in the disabled community.

“Older Australians — like Ron — have so much to offer, not just to friends and family, but to the wider community,” Mr Butler said.

“This award gives the community the chance to nominate an older person who gives their time and energy to making a difference to the lives of others, and to thank them for their work and effort over many years.”

Nominations for the Senior Australian of the Year close at the end of August, with the state and territory finalists to be announced during November. The Senior Australian of the Year for 2012 will be announced in a national ceremony in Canberra on the day before Australia Day.

“Acknowledging and respecting the role of older people has always been important, but it’s becoming even more so with Australia’s rapidly ageing population,” Mr Butler said.

In Australia, life expectancy has increased significantly over the past century.  At 81.2 years, Australians have the fifth longest life expectancy in the world.  2007 ABS figures indicate that the number of people in Australia aged 65-84 years is expected to grow to 4 million by 2022.

For nomination forms and more information about the Senior Australian of the Year, see www.australianoftheyear.gov.au