The Senior

The Senior The Senior's been Australia's trusted source for news, lifestyle, health & travel for 50+since 1978.

Has your local post office shut down in the past few years? The Citizens Party is calling for Australia Post to stop the...
16/09/2026

Has your local post office shut down in the past few years?
The Citizens Party is calling for Australia Post to stop the closure of post offices and reverse recent branch cutbacks, they've even launched a parliamentary petition.
It comes as nearly 220 post offices have been closed since 2021.
But Australia's mail carrier maintains that its making necessary changes to the nation's outlets to adjust for customer needs.
➡ Read the full story here: https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9351003/petition-launched-to-stop-australia-post-branch-closures/

Could proposed cuts to private health insurance rebates lead to a surge in dementia cases among older Australians?Peak m...
16/09/2026

Could proposed cuts to private health insurance rebates lead to a surge in dementia cases among older Australians?

Peak medical body Deaf Australia Forum has raised alarm that slashing the rebate for people over 65 could strip funding for vital cochlear sound processor upgrades.

Health experts point out that hearing loss is linked to 7% of global dementia cases, warning that taking away essential hearing supports leads quickly to social isolation and cognitive decline.

With potential premium hikes of up to $1,600 a year, pensioners say they may be forced back into an already stretched public system.

➡️ Read the full story here: https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9349540/thousands-sign-cotas-petition-to-stop-health-insurance-price-hikes/

Did you check your myGov inbox after lodging your tax return this year? 💸If you did, you might have noticed a little kno...
15/09/2026

Did you check your myGov inbox after lodging your tax return this year? 💸

If you did, you might have noticed a little known receipt that reveals exactly where your hard-earned dollars are being spent by the government.

Some of the costs include servicing Australia's massive national debt.

For one reader, $474 of their tax bill, or 3.8 per cent of their total tax, went straight towards paying interest on government debt. On an income tax bill of $20,000, that interest bill jumps to $780.

With national debt reaching $982 billion in the 2026 financial year, interest payments alone hit $27 billion. As interest rates stay high, the cost to ordinary Aussie taxpayers keeps growing.

Have you looked at your income tax receipt yet? Were you surprised by where your money goes? Let us know in the comments!

Full story: https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9350328/as-government-debt-hits-1-trillion-heres-what-it-costs-taxpayers/

Think COVID jabs are still free for everyone in Australia? Think again. 🛑Major rule changes take effect on October 1, re...
15/09/2026

Think COVID jabs are still free for everyone in Australia? Think again. 🛑

Major rule changes take effect on October 1, restricting free boosters to very specific groups and leaving everyone else to foot the bill.

To make matters more complex, top doctors are warning of a surprising secondary health risk that hits every year right around October (and it isn't just hay fever).

See the new cutoff ages, who is still protected under the free scheme, and the spring health trap experts say most people miss:https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9349462/older-australians-health-experts-urge-vaccine-spring-clean/

Retired police officer Geoff Gauci knew something wasn't right when he looked into the exit fees at his retirement villa...
14/09/2026

Retired police officer Geoff Gauci knew something wasn't right when he looked into the exit fees at his retirement village.

Now, following a landmark court ruling, Lifestyle Communities expects to issue up to $78 million in refunds to affected residents and families.

If you or a loved one were charged exit fees in Victoria, you could be owed between $80,000 and $160,000, especially if you are a beneficiary of a deceased estate.

"Here's your opportunity to get your money back," Geoff says.

Did you or a family member live in one of these communities? Tap the link to see if you might be eligible for a refund.

Read more: https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9349735

Beethoven, Mozart, Strauss ... but where are the women? 🎵Did you know that in 2022, just 14.5 per cent of all works play...
14/09/2026

Beethoven, Mozart, Strauss ... but where are the women? 🎵

Did you know that in 2022, just 14.5 per cent of all works played by Australia's major orchestras were written by women?

In fact, three male composers, Beethoven, Mozart, and Strauss, were featured more times than all female composers combined.

Former WASO oboist Stephanie Nicholls is working to change the gender gap with a new Perth festival celebrating over 100 works by women throughout history.

Do you have a favorite female composer or musician, and which hidden gems of the classical world do you think more people need to hear? Share your recommendations below.

Read more: https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9349512/classical-musics-gender-gap-inspires-perth-festival-for-women/

Are you sick of social media deciding what you see?Older Australians have backed a world-first proposal that would give ...
14/09/2026

Are you sick of social media deciding what you see?

Older Australians have backed a world-first proposal that would give users the power to switch off algorithms on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

One woman says she's sick of being bombarded with political ads, while another says one click can send her down a 15-minute “rabbit hole”.

Read the full story here: https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9348370/albanese-government-proposes-world-first-algorithm-choice/

Would you switch your algorithm off if you could? 👇

90-year-old Stephen Andrews lives in Casino. The nearest Chemist Warehouse is 50km away, the nearest Myer is 200km away,...
13/09/2026

90-year-old Stephen Andrews lives in Casino.
The nearest Chemist Warehouse is 50km away, the nearest Myer is 200km away, and his town doesn't even have Uber Eats. Yet his bank just replaced his practical fuel vouchers with city-centric perks he can't use—while cutting his rewards points on major bills in half.

As CommBank, ANZ, NAB, and Westpac overhaul their rewards schemes ahead of October 1, regional retirees are asking: why are country Australians getting squeezed out while city cardholders reap the benefits?

Have your bank rewards lost their value? Tell us your experience in the comments below. 👇https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9348414/

Tired of backing a massive caravan into a crammed site that cost $80 a night? You’re definitely not alone. With nearly a...
13/09/2026

Tired of backing a massive caravan into a crammed site that cost $80 a night? You’re definitely not alone.
With nearly a million rigs hitting Australian roads and popular caravan parks booked solid months in advance, savvy Grey Nomads are making a quiet power move: they’re ditching the big setups for stealthy compact vans.
After years on the road, Aussies Nick and Therese swapped the traditional towing hassle for a compact Volkswagen campervan—and it completely transformed how they travel.
👉 See why smaller might just be smarter for your next big lap:
https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9348589/

After 30 years of struggling in the private rental market as a single mother, Wendy thought she’d never own a home. It w...
13/09/2026

After 30 years of struggling in the private rental market as a single mother, Wendy thought she’d never own a home.

It wasn't until she received an unexpected inheritance in her 70s that she was finally able to buy a flat in Perth.

"I was lucky," Wendy says. But as home ownership rates plummet for Australians over 55, experts warn a "tsunami" of older renters are being left behind by a retirement system that assumes you own your home.

Wendy says moving from rental to rental took a heavy toll on her health: "It's a huge job just to move when you're younger, let alone when you're getting older."

Read her full story and what experts say needs to change: https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/9347445

Have you or someone you know had to navigate renting later in life? What do you think governments should be doing to make housing more secure for older Australians?

Address

POSTAL ONLY PO Box 130
Wyong, NSW
2259

Telephone

+611800001987

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Senior posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category