Recently, an international collaborative exchange "The Getting of Wisdom" was organised by the peak adult and community education bodies of Australia (Adult Learning Australia) and New Zealand (ACE Aotearoa), in partnership with ELOA (Education and Learning by Older Adults) - a research network of ESREA (European Society for Research into the Education of Adults).  The gathering focussed on diverse contexts, social inequalities and empowerment/identity in later life.

A well defined statement emerged out of the conjoined conferences and highlighted agreements and recommendations from the participants across ten countries.  Items such as the critical foci, rights and benefits, as well as principal challenges (learning to remain independent..., tapping into and acknowledging wisdom..., and sharing and acquiring knowledge, skills and wisdom inter-generationally) are detailed further.

A special edition of the Australian Journal of Adult Learning (due November 2017) will include selected papers and key statements.  Planning is underway for a follow-on 2019 program in Europe.

Denise Reghenzani-Kearns, PASCAL Associate