ICFHS contributes to national policy dialogue on intergenerational equity
Published on the 27 July 2026
Senior Research Fellow Dr Rafal Chomik represented the ICFHS at the Policy Dialogue on Intergenerational Equity, held in Canberra this month, jointly hosted by the UNSW Centre for Population Ageing Research and the ANU Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis. The event brought together researchers, policymakers, industry leaders and community representatives to discuss the economic, social and policy dimensions of fairness across generations.
Dr Chomik presented on health across generations, showing that while physical health has largely held up, mental health has deteriorated. The early findings suggest that psychological distress has worsened with each successive cohort, most sharply among young women. Symptoms have risen across all socioeconomic groups, but treatment has grown fastest in the most advantaged areas.
He also joined a policy panel alongside Department of Health Chief Economist Emily Lancsar, Department of Social Services Deputy Secretary Matt Flavell and University of Melbourne researcher James Rice.
The dialogue, opened by Michael Lye, Secretary of the Department of Social Services, featured contributions from prominent figures, including independent MP Allegra Spender, Grattan Institute CEO Aruna Sathanapally, and Cassandra Goldie from Australian Council of Social Services.
The event allowed ICFHS research to contribute to national conversations about how health systems should respond to changing health needs across generations.