062 Chapter 5 Impact of the age awareness workshop For some participants, reflecting on and recognising their own age-based assumptions led them to change existing practices or implement new ways of doing things in their workplace. These participants spoke about respecting their clients’ autonomy and independence, and not making generalisations about clients’ preferences and capabilities based on their age. They did this by listening rather than telling, and asking rather than doing. [I] have become much more reflective about my expectations for older clients and the implicit bias this is based upon. My increased awareness of this has helped me to consciously change my practice to try and negate this bias, so that I treat the client as an individual rather than a representative of the ‘elderly’. It's definitely shaping the work that I do, by showing more respect and compassion, not making assumptions, and changing how I perceive the process of ageing. I don’t assume older people need help by default [anymore]. I also acknowledge their capabilities and work around their needs with their consent. I have changed the way I speak to my clients and made it more about a collaboration rather than my suggestion of what help they should get. [I have] a different perspective when working with older population – allowing and encouraging more self-management and control over their decisions. [I’m] more discerning of my judgement and awareness of my clients. My approach now is about what they are able to do. —Survey responses [Before] I would say, ‘We need to do A, B, and C’ … because that is my solution to their problem, whereas now … if there’s an issue [I would say], ‘What can I do to support you?’, not ‘This is what we’re going to do’. —Participant, age 46 I’m more reflective of myself … [I think to myself] ‘Are we actually involving them [the clients] or are we telling them something?’ —Participant, age 43 A number of participants shared how their team or organisation had implemented changes following the workshop. [As an organisation], we have increased the amount of opportunities for developing people's physical fitness and enhancing mobility through dance, yoga, etc. in our social support groups. —Survey response We use diverse images of people of various ages in our brochures, so our 65+ clients feel more included … [and that] their health conditions are not [seen to be] associated with age. —Survey response