Divorce rate climbing Down Under

The number of older married couples in Australia who have got a divorce has risen quite dramatically in the last decade.

According to research the number of marital separations has risen from 1,990 in 1996 to 2,862 in 2006 for those aged 55 or over and experts have suggested that there are a number of contributing factors behind this rise.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the changing pace of many people's lifestyles, more opportunities to 'start again' romantically, such as via internet dating and a desire to have new experiences later on are inspiring many to abandon their failing marriages and go in search of happier climes.

Family lawyer Richard Calley noted that couples often realise that their marriage is no longer working once they achieve certain shared goals such as raising a family and have nothing to unite them.

He told the paper: "It's usually women who want the divorce - but they have both hung in there for years in an unhappy marriage."

In addition, Rosalind Baker, principal at dating agency Entre Nous, said that there are many older women who are coming in search of a new relationship after a failed marriage.

"We have divorced women in their 60s who can run rings around the men."

Share your story