Events

By Elizabeth Frias

Sydney psychotherapist Faith Agugu founded Silver Sirens nearly a decade ago to help women over 50 embrace ageing and confidently shape the next chapter of their lives.

When Agugu launched Silver Sirens Redefining Ageing in Sydney in 2018, about 300 women attended. Many shared valuable life experience and a desire to reject the idea that growing older came with an expiry date.

Agugu returned to Sydney last month after the organisation’s annual conference in Adelaide, describing it as a day filled with meaningful conversations, warm connections, laughter and inspiring speakers.

Among the women influenced by Silver Sirens is Merrylands resident Julia Gietzmann, 63, who was recently forced to retire from nursing because of an ongoing medical condition.

The change required significant adjustments, but Silver Sirens helped her see retirement as the beginning of a new stage rather than the end of her active life.

Gietzmann attended the inaugural conference and described it as “the best thing I ever did for myself”.

“There was no rich or poor among us,” she said.

“Since the 2018 conference, I’ve learned so much from Silver Sirens. I’ve become curious and much more active in my life.”

Originally from South Africa, Gietzmann spent many years working in aged care throughout Western Sydney. Her experiences showed her how easily older people could become isolated or lose their sense of purpose.

“Many older people I met seemed to be just waiting to die,” she said.

“It opened my eyes that ageing is not meant to be that way. With Silver Sirens, we learn about being physically and mentally active and how to care for the mind, body and soul.”

In June, Agugu led a discussion about retirement planning, financial security and building confidence about the future.

Gietzmann later hosted a Sirens Connections luncheon at her Merrylands home, with Agugu guiding the conversation. About a dozen women attended, each bringing a dish and sharing their experiences and concerns.

“We always discuss self-care, and every time we meet face-to-face, I learn so much from everyone,” Gietzmann said.

“What I love is that the atmosphere is non-judgmental. It’s not about your body size, your age or how much you have in your bank account. Even if you have less, you feel accepted by everyone in the room.”

Silver Sirens has grown from a single conference into a national community offering online and in-person events, webinars, masterclasses and a member resource library. Its programs include the Siren Side by Side Buddy Program and Silver Connections lunches held in cafes and members’ homes around Australia.

“The response to that first conference in 2018 told me we had touched something real,” Agugu said.

“Women didn’t just attend; they stayed, brought friends and asked what was next. The movement’s growth since then has honestly surpassed my original dreams and ambitions.”

Agugu was born in Nigeria, moved to London at nine and came to Australia at 25. Now in her 60s, she draws on her experience as a psychotherapist to understand the challenges women can face as they grow older.

She said many women in their 40s and 50s struggled with low confidence and felt they had reached life’s finish line.

“Listening to their feelings of invisibility, discomfort with menopause, grief as an empty-nester and fear that life had passed them by, I felt called to create a space where these women could flourish,” she said.

The inaugural conference featured discussions about healthy ageing, sexuality after 50, financial wellbeing, leadership and loneliness. Speakers have since included journalist, author and former television news anchor Tracey Spicer AM, who addressed the 2021 conference on ageing in the public eye.

The recent Adelaide conference brought together women’s health and wellbeing experts, including Dr Amanda Olsson, nutritionist and menopause specialist Chiza Westcarr and award-winning author Carol Lefevre.

Silver Sirens also runs programs addressing emotional wellbeing, financial literacy, relationships, identity, leadership and career development. Upcoming events include online masterclasses, a book club discussion of Judy Higgs’ The Secret Lives of Older Women and women’s leadership training in Coffs Harbour.

The organisation attracts women from a wide range of circumstances, including older workers whose decades of experience have been overlooked and women challenging stereotypes and ageism.

Some members are starting businesses, returning to study or pursuing new careers after being made redundant in their 50s or later. Agugu said the community helped them rebuild confidence and recognise the value of their experience.

She believes three qualities distinguish Silver Sirens from other networks for older women.

“First, we go beyond social connection,” she said. “We focus on leadership, mentoring and what we call ‘embracing elderhood’ — the belief that becoming a wise elder is a privilege and a contribution, not a decline.

“Second, we are deliberately inclusive and non-judgmental. We welcome women from diverse sexual and cultural backgrounds, women who have faced serious personal or financial hardship, and women over 70 whose wisdom we actively celebrate.

“Third, we pair inspiration with practical tools, mentoring, masterclasses and resources that help women build their next chapter, whether that’s a new career, business or cause.”

For Silver Sirens members, achievement does not follow a single path. Women are encouraged to challenge narrow ideas about ageing and success while acknowledging the genuine difficulties that can come with later life.

Agugu said women over 50 had a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer their workplaces, industries and communities.

“Silver Sirens empowers women to step into leadership roles, share their stories and advocate for change,” she said.

“We are women over 50 embarking on new careers or business ventures, and we are eager to make a meaningful impact in our communities and industries.”

For more information, visit www.silversirens.org.