The Retirement Transitions program conducts cross-sectional and longitudinal investigations of the role of different personal and psychosocial resources in promoting successful adaptation to two important later life transitions: retirement from the workforce and residential relocation.

The Retirement Transitions program of work consists of a number of projects focussing on the contextual and psychological factors surrounding changes in employment associated with ageing.

Research projects include:

• The Transitions in Later Life (TRAILLs) – which began in 2009 and examines two important later life transitions: residential relocation and retirement from the workforce. A better understanding of the factors that influence the success of retirement and relocation transitions has the potential to inform government policy, as well as development of interventions designed to assist older adults in adapting successfully to changes commonly experienced in later life. The study is supported by industry partners the Illawarra Retirement Trust & National Seniors Australia, and is funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage grant.
• Relocation to a retirement community and the relationships between physical health, social relationships, personal wellbeing and place of residence among adults aged 55 and over are also being investigated.
• Investigation of the relationship between changes in functional capacities (cognitive and sensory) and labour force participation among older adults utilising data from nine Australian longitudinal studies provided by the DYNOPTA project.
• Understanding the effects of health and superannuation policies – as well as broader global scale events such as the Global Financial Crisis - on retirement decisions and wellbeing.

Partnerships

• Professor Hal Kendig, University of Sydney
• Dr Tim Windsor, Flinders University
• Ms Karla Heese, University of Sydney