Our history

AAG's foundations were laid on 5 July 1962, when Dr Geoffrey Hughes and Dr Arthur Everitt established the Gerontological Society of New South Wales. The following year, Dr Sidney Sax and Sir Giles Chippendall (then President of the National Old Peoples Welfare Council) worked with Dr David Wallace to establish AAG. The inaugural National Conference of the AAG was held at the Australian National University in Canberra in June 1964.

Over the next two decades, the AAG quickly established itself as the national peak body representing gerontologists from a broad range of professional backgrounds, including geriatricians, academics, researchers, nurses and allied health professionals.

Today, AAG has almost 1,200 members across every State and Territory in Australia, with a broader reach of 12,000 individuals. AAG represents gerontologists on several government advisory panels and working groups, and is a member of the National Aged Care Alliance.

AAG has also been instrumental in developing and promoting gerontology internationally. AAG has had representation on a range of international advisory committees and delegations, including the Australian Delegation to the First World Assembly on Ageing held in Vienna in 1982.

AAG has been an active member of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG) from its beginning: 

  • Dr Gary Andrews was IAGG's 16th president, from 1997-2001
  • Professor Keith Hill is the Immediate Past Chair of the IAGG Asia/Oceania Region
  • AAG Past President Professor Julie Byles is Chair of the IAGG Asia/Oceania Region Social Research and Planning Scientific Sub-committee
  • Both Keith and Julie Are AAG’s representatives on the IAGG Council
  • Renu Borst, as CEO of AAG, is the Executive Officer of the IAGG Asia/Oceania Region.

In 1997, AAG hosted the IAGG World Congress in Adelaide. It was at this congress that a joint UN Office on Ageing and IAGG project, the 'Research Agenda on Ageing for the 21st Century', was established with Professor Gary Andrews appointed co-convener. IAGG 2029 will be held in Australia and New Zealand.

Related: The Formation of Gerontological Societies in Australia by A.V. Everitt and M. Shaw