We have tended to look on the Australians as somewhat backward in the realms of social behaviour, while they tend to look on the British as "whingeing Poms".

But there seems to be one area where they have got ahead of the game and that is in their programmes for the over-50s.

They have recognised the contribution which the older generation makes to the economic and social life of the communities in which they live. They have a National Strategy for an Ageing Australia and have appointed a minister for the aged as well as a minister for health and aged who deal directly with a cross-party government group directly set up by the prime minister.

They have a broad canvas covering independence, encouraging self-provision, healthy ageing and lifestyle, many of which the Better Government for Older People has now taken on board.

Australia started an Over-50s Employment Service as far back as 1954, recognising long ago there was a problem.

The Australian government is busy looking at ways of improving the service and highlighting the problems thrown up when 50 to 60-year-olds are thrown out of work and have to start living on money which should be going towards paying for their pensions rather than current living expenses.

The government is aware there is still much left to be done in this area but they are doing their best to improve matters by focusing on four major themes, one of the main ones being health in later life.

They are looking at such areas as isolation and suicide arising from being left on one's own and fall and injury prevention, especially in distant rural areas where life can be more difficult for the elderly.

The government has taken a wide view, recognising that well-being covers a broad area for the older residents.

For the first time such aspects as alcoholism, mental health, injury prevention and such ills as cancer and cardiovascular health are coming under close scrutiny.

Of course, none of those ills is peculiar to old age but for the first time they are being considered specifically for their impact on the elderly.

Another area the national strategy considered was the question of discrimination in the workplace, something which is continually raising its head in this country, as it does elsewhere.

It is encouraging to know that right across Australia there has been a serious effort to include older people in working parties and discussion groups, recognising that many of them have great experience in business and a wide variety of careers which would be of great help in the setting up of consultancy groups.

Brighton is now one of the front runners in setting up a shadow council consisting of senior members of society who will be elected in November this year at the time of the first conference, directly linked to the needs of older people.

It will be an opportunity for an increasingly large section of the population to put down their markers, showing the city council what they expect of them.

But to make this election of any real use you do need to go and vote and, judging by the apathy shown at elections, the whole scheme could be strangled at birth.

It looks as though we have some way to go to catch up with Australia in setting out the objectives of governance for the Third Age. But maybe the conference and the election of the shadow council will help raise awareness of the contribution made by the older generation and acknowledging specific needs in later life.