GEDSI Alumni Network on Elderly Care in Indonesia, Marking International Women’s Day

As Indonesia’s population ages, an important question emerges: who will care for the elderly, and how can care systems better support families and communities?

To explore this issue, the GEDSI Australian Alumni Network and Australia Awards in Indonesia, in collaboration with Cowater International and Arunala, recently held the hybrid discussion, ‘Care Responsibility for the Elderly in Indonesia’, in Bandung and online, marking International Women’s Day.

Moderated by OzAlum Ratna Kreshtiana, the discussion featured fellow OzAlum Sri Kusumastuti Rahayu, Dwi Rahayuningsih and Dr Hani Yulindrasari. Speakers highlighted how caregiving in Indonesia is often carried out by families, particularly women, and how factors such as gender, socioeconomic conditions, disability and geography shape access to support systems.

Through shared insights and cross-sector dialogue, the discussion advanced efforts to build more inclusive and sustainable elderly care systems in Indonesia. Aligned with the IWD 2026 theme, 'Give to Gain', the session also encouraged alumni to consider how they can contribute to gender-equal care systems through policy, research, professional practice and community engagement.