The way Australians think about retirement is changing.

More retirees are heading back to work, not just for financial reasons but because the emotional and mental shift after leaving a career is just as significant. 

CEO of the Australian Psychologist Society Dr Zena Burges told Dean Miller on 4BC Drive, "There's quite a lot of research that shows that work is good for your mental health because it gives you a sense of purpose, and it also links you with other people."

"And if you're an older person in a workplace, often you take the role of a mentor of younger people, but older people also are quite capable of learning new skills and enjoy the challenge of doing so," Dr Burges continued. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.