15 June 2016 was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) – an annual day designated by the United Nations to focus public attention on this insidious problem.
Seniors Rights Victoria appeared in the Herald Sun newspaper and in an Elder Abuse Talkback Forum with Jon Faine on 774 ABC Melbourne.
Seniors Rights Victoria also hosted an event for 90 people at Lander & Rogers law firm, where the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, the Hon. Fiona Richardson MP, spoke eloquently about the Government’s actions on elder abuse, and announced some new funding for Seniors Rights Victoria to help more local service providers and community groups prevent elder abuse. Jennifer Evans, a long-time peer educator, then presented one woman’s moving story of elder abuse, which was followed by a community education video developed with the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria.
Last, Freda Vrantsidis, of the National Ageing Research Institute, launched the NARI/Seniors Rights Victoria report: ‘The older person’s experience: outcomes of interventions into elder abuse’. This is the only Australian study we know of that looks at elder abuse from older peoples’ perspective. The report also contains recommendations, formed from the advice of the courageous participants, which will be of great use to both older people and policy-makers alike.
Seniors Rights Victoria, helped by volunteers from our parent body COTA Vic also hosted an information table in the historic Block Arcade in Collins st, Melbourne on 15 June 2016. We engaged with over 200 people, handing out WEAAD themed helpsheets, bookmarks, magnets, ribbons, posters and balloons, and having many important conversations about elder abuse.