5TH NATIONAL ELDER ABUSE CONFERENCE| 19-20 FEBRUARY 2018 | SOFITEL SYDNEY WENTWORTH
5TH NATIONAL ELDER ABUSE CONFERENCE 19-20 FEBRUARY 2018 | SOFITEL SYDNEY WENTWORTH
5TH NATIONAL ELDER ABUSE CONFERENCE 19-20 FEBRUARY 2018 SOFITEL SYDNEY WENTWORTH
HOSTED BY
Archives: Resources
In February 2018, the Senior Rights Service of NSW hosted the 5th National Elder Abuse Conference. The Conference culminated in an announcement by the Attorney-General, the Honourable Christian Porter that a National Plan would be developed to ensure the protection of older people in the Australian community.
To further the conversations generated by the conference, Seniors Rights Service engaged Ellen Fanning to conduct a series of interviews with experts who attended the conference. These videos, along with a discussion sheet for each video, are freely available to community members, professionals and students of all sectors, to enable engagement with the content using suggested discussion questions and to follow up with further reading.
Ms Gioffre talks about the Living a Positive Life Toolkit developed by the Aged Rights Advocacy Service […more]
Ms Gioffre talks about the Living a Positive Life Toolkit developed by the Aged Rights Advocacy Service (ARAS) which aims to help start the conversation about elder abuse. Rather than focus on the term ‘abuse’ which is difficult to translate for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, the kit promotes four key positive strategies. The toolkit is targeted to anyone who has a connection with elderly people in the community. The kit has also been trialled successfully with Aboriginal communities.
Ms Patetsos talks about how older Australians from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) […more]
Ms Patetsos talks about how older Australians from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds have role models of ageing for their background culture and not necessarily for Australian culture. She says, they may have a cultural expectation to be looked after, but know it is not possible, which can lead to them not creating the ‘scaffolding’ around themselves as an older person to prevent being at risk. Isolation and financial exploitation through lack of understanding their rights and the responsibilities of others towards them, are probably the greatest vulnerabilities facing older people from CALD backgrounds. Providing accessible, appropriate information in languages that peole can understand is the key to older people from CALD backgrounds being able to live as good a life as possible and minimise the risk of abuse.
Commissioner Patterson explains how ageism is one part of what causes elder abuse […more]
Commissioner Patterson explains how ageism is one part of what causes elder abuse. Other issues, she says, are inheritance impatience, family breakdown, and lack of understanding responsibility of powers of attorney. Ms Patterson reminds viewers that people don’t have power of attorney “over” somebody, but with or for (representing) that person. She argues that attitudes and expectations around ageing need to change. The ALRC report has, she says, raised the profile of elder abuse, but publicising and informing your local MP about work in elder abuse prevention can have an impact also.
The Hon. Michael Kirby discusses how the particular vulnerability for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual […more]
The Hon. Michael Kirby discusses how the particular vulnerability for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) community is related to “the deal made between themselves and society” – to keep quiet about their sexual orientation; to live in silence about their relationships. Mr Kirby explains how enacting a law (such as marriage equality) doesn’t immediately change views, so there are potential difficulties with openness in an institutional setting, with both staff and other residents. These taboos and deeper cultural views perpetuate the vulnerability of LGBTQI older people in relation to elder abuse.
Mr Browne discusses how lawyers can be active in preventing financial elder abuse by assisting clients […more]
Mr Browne discusses how lawyers can be active in preventing financial elder abuse by assisting clients when drawing up enduring documents. He argues that a lack of care and diligence in the preparation of an enduring power of attorney can lead to financial elder abuse.
Ms Broun explains how racism and the context of colonial history puts up barriers to Aboriginal people […more]
Ms Broun explains how racism and the context of colonial history puts up barriers to Aboriginal people accessing services, reporting abuse and makes them much more vulnerable. There is an expectation for elderly Aboriginal people to be taken care of in the home, hence a need for training and supporting their carers. Ms Broun outlines the various Red Cross programs available which help reduce social isolation and which could assist in detecting elder abuse. Ms Broun argues that there needs to be a national framework to work within, about what you need to be alert to, how you identify elder abuse.
Mr Biswas discusses the activities of the Hunter Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Elder Abuse Prevention Network (NSW) […more]
Mr Biswas discusses the activities of the Hunter Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Elder Abuse Prevention Network (NSW). He explains how seniors from CALD backgrounds can find it much harder to access the supports and services available. Mr Biswas describes how the Network worked with seniors of CALD background to develop elder abuse awareness information sessions to “begin conversations” within communities. He highlights how the project resulted in a greater number of calls relating to CALD seniors to the NSW Elder Abuse Prevention Helpline.
Ms Bray explains how ageism is leading to people being treated differently or are having their decision […more]
Ms Bray explains how ageism is leading to people being treated differently or are having their decision making rights ignored as they age. Referring to research she conducted with seniors or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) seniors, she discusses the complexities of understanding elder abuse within multicultural contexts. Ms Bray explains how elder abuse prevention needs more research, but research is difficult because these matters are taboo and are kept hidden. She shares the ideas of seniors she consulted with, and also the findings of the findings of the review of prevention projects aimed at CALD communities that she conducted for the Senior’s Rights Service and the Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW.
Dr Barrett discusses how sexual abuse of older women is massively under-reported […more]
Dr Barrett discusses how sexual abuse of older women is massively under-reported. She explains how the perception of older women as asexual can lead to dismissal and disbelief when sexual abuse is reported. She also argues that there is little recognition of older women’s risk of sexual abuse by service providers. Dr Barrett then discusses how The Power Project provides information around the prevention and reporting of the sexual abuse of older women.
Ms Bligh discusses the Australian Banking Association’s guidelines aimed at protecting customers […more]
Ms Bligh discusses the Australian Banking Association’s guidelines aimed at protecting customers from potential financial abuse. These are used as a basis for training bank tellers to deal with these sensitive issues while respecting privacy and confidentiality. She explains how banks implement the obligation to alert someone to the fact that there is unusual transactions on their account.
