Blogs
Too Old for Tech? The Myth Holding Australia Back.
New tools, platforms and ways of working are emerging constantly, reshaping the roles businesses need and the skills required to succeed. Staying relevant is as much about keeping up as it is about embracing a mindset of continuous growth.
But for many seasoned professionals, the journey isn’t just about learning new skills. The hard part can be overcoming barriers that shouldn’t exist, like ageism.
The Ageism Barrier in Australian Tech
Ageism in Australian workplaces is real. According to the Australian Seniors Series: Ageing in the Workforce 2021, 20.7% of Australians aged 50+ reported experiencing age discrimination in the workplace, nearly double the 9.6% reported in 2016.
Additional research from the Australian Human Rights Commission and Australian HR Institute indicates that only about half of HR professionals surveyed are open to hiring workers over 50, highlighting ongoing recruitment biases.
At the same time, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that workforce participation among older Australians is rising, from 11% in 2010 to 15% in 2021.
These stats underscore a clear tension: older tech professionals are increasingly active in the workforce, but many still face barriers that undervalue experience.
Upskilling: A Strategy for Every Stage of Your Career
Upskilling isn’t just for younger tech talent. It benefits individuals at every stage of their career. For seasoned professionals, embracing new technologies demonstrates adaptability, resilience and a commitment to growth.
Importantly, it also counters ageist biases. By staying current with emerging tech, experienced professionals can show that their value isn’t defined by age but instead by skill, perspective and innovation.
Practical Steps for Upskilling
- Identify Relevant Skills – Focus on trending areas like cloud computing, AI, cybersecurity and data analytics.
- Leverage Online Learning Platforms – Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, edX, and other platforms make upskilling practical and flexible.
- Engage in Community Learning – Join tech meetups, webinars and forums to learn from peers and experts.
- Apply Knowledge Practically – Contribute to side projects, hackathons or open-source initiatives to build hands-on experience.
- Champion Inclusive Workplaces – Support policies that promote diversity, equity and inclusion, ensuring opportunities for professionals of all ages.
The Cost of Ageism
The tech industry thrives on innovation, and innovation thrives on diversity. Older tech professionals bring experience, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that younger workers can complement. But only if workplaces value their contributions.
Upskilling isn’t just about learning tools; it’s about staying visible, relevant and empowered in a landscape that’s constantly evolving.
Explore why neurodiversity matters in tech, how different ways of thinking strengthen teams and practical strategies for building inclusive, high-performing data and tech teams.
Meeting net-zero targets starts with tech talent. Discover the critical cloud, security and integration roles driving a sustainable future.
Welcome to Lunch With a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business.
Spoiler: “Competitive salary” isn’t the hook you think it is.
Welcome to Lunch with a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business.
Welcome to Lunch with a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business.
Why the way you brief, partner, and align at the top matters more than ever.
Welcome to Lunch with a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business.
We’ve entered an era where the smartest systems aren’t the loudest. they’re the ones you don’t even notice. Ambient Intelligence (AmI), or “ambient invisible intelligence,” is reshaping how we live and work, not with fanfare, but with subtlety. This is AI that whispers instead of shouts. It learns your habits, senses your environment, and responds without you lifting a finger. It’s the kind of intelligence that anticipates, not interrupts. So… why should tech professionals, recruiters, and business leaders care? What Is Ambient Intelligence (AmI), Really? Ambient intelligence refers to digital systems—AI, sensors, and networks—that are embedded into our environments to support humans quietly and contextually. Think beyond chatbots and flashy dashboards. This is: Smart lighting that adjusts based on mood or weather Healthcare systems that flag early symptoms before patients notice Cybersecurity that auto-defends without alert fatigue Enterprise tools that prioritise tasks based on your unique working patterns. It’s a tech layer that fades into the background. That is, until you realise you couldn’t function without it. A Silent Revolution in the Workplace Here’s the interesting bit: Ambient AI isn’t just for homes and smart cities. It’s quietly infiltrating our workplaces. Talent Platforms that serve candidates content before they search. Meeting Software that understands conversation flow and adjusts transcripts, follow-ups, or even sentiment analysis in real time. Facilities Management tools that adjust airflow, lighting, and noise levels based on occupancy and stress indicators. And all of this happens without user prompts. We’ve moved from “Hey Siri” to “Siri already knows.” Why It Matters for Tech Recruitment Let’s talk talent. As ambient intelligence grows, we’ll see rising demand for: AI/ML engineers with human-centred design experience Data privacy and ethics specialists IoT security experts UX professionals who understand invisible design Integration architects who can make fragmented systems feel cohesive. And here’s the catch: these roles often require cross-functional fluency. Tech meets psychology, meets ethics, meets design. Are we ready for that shift? Ethical Design in the Background There’s power in invisibility. But there’s risk too. When tech becomes ambient, it also becomes less visible to scrutiny. That means: Bias can go unchecked Data privacy can slip through the cracks Users can be nudged without realising it. The question is no longer can we do this? —But should we? Smart businesses will bring in people who can answer that. Invisible, but Intentional The future of AI isn’t a robot in the boardroom. It’s the algorithm silently removing barriers before they appear. Ambient intelligence is already here. You may have just not noticed it. Yet.
Welcome to Lunch with a Leader, where the Tech & Data People team sits down with IT leaders to uncover their career insights, challenges, and industry perspectives. Each conversation brings valuable lessons, trends, and advice to help our community grow and thrive. Grab a seat at the table and take in the insights from some of the best in the business.
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