Experts say the Australian economy is losing about $10 billion a year by not utilising the skills of the country's older workers.
And they say the problem of age discrimination is a lot more common than most people think.
The Human Rights Commission estimates that about a 3rd of Australians 55 years or older want to work but can't find a job, mainly because of their age.
"It's devastating for a person who has worked all their life, they've worked 40 years or more they've been successful employees they've always done what they've required to do they've raised a family they've been good community members suddenly to be told you've had too many birthdays you're useless it's a devastating impact," said Susan Ryan, Age Discrimination Commissioner for the Human Rights Commission.
Some of the more common forms of age discrimination can be found in the job search. That includes being told you are over qualified for a position, and job descriptions with words such as energetic and youthful. Experts say they can create barriers that prompt some people to give up searching for a job.
Sageco is a Sydney-based company that works with businesses to help them realise the value of older workers.
"We look at the costly of replacing those people if they were to leave in industries like engineering or finance you can be looking at one one and a half times an annual salary to replace that person and their wealth and knowledge of skills," said Sageco general manager Alison Monroe.
