Across the Asia-Pacific, people are living longer than ever before. From rapidly ageing societies in Northeast Asia to younger but fast-transitioning populations in South and Southeast Asia, countries across the region are confronting the social and economic implications of longer lives.

These shifts are generating diverse challenges — and innovative responses — as governments, communities and families rethink how to support ageing populations.

What does it mean to age well in societies undergoing rapid economic and social change? How can families, communities and health systems across Asia better support people to remain healthy and independent for longer? And what innovations — social, medical or technological — are emerging in the region to help societies adapt to this new demographic reality?

Panel:

Professor George Liu (Associate Dean (Partnerships International), School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University)

Professor Irene Blackberry (John Richards Chair and Director, Care Economy Research Institute, La Trobe University) -

Dr Hiromasa Okayasu (Director of Division of Healthy Environments and Populations. World Health Organization) -

Professor Bianca Brijnath (Health Communication in Society at La Trobe University) (Chair)

Recorded on 23rd March, 2026.