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Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) and Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria are urging all Victorians to come together this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), 15 June, and rally around the right of older people to feel safe and live free from fear.
Recognised by The United Nations General Assembly and celebrated annually, WEAAD provides an opportunity for communities to stand together against the abuse, mistreatment, and neglect of older people.
For this year’s WEAAD campaign, Seniors Rights Victoria and COTA Victoria partnered with the Housing for the Aged Action group to revitalise the Warm Safe Home project, an initiative first developed by Dr Becky Nevin for the South-West Victoria Elder Abuse Prevention Network back in 2020.
The Warm Safe Home project uses handcrafted, small-scale model houses decorated by students, artists, seniors, carer support groups, professional organisations, and other community members to frame conversations about the rights of older people.
“The most recent study of elder abuse prevalence in Australia found that 14.8% of those 65 years and over had experienced at least one recognised form of elder abuse over the previous 12 months,” said Seniors Rights Victoria Manager and Principal Lawyer, Avital Kamil. “This suggests that 160,000 older Victorians are reporting that they have experienced elder abuse each year.
“This year, we wanted to deliver a campaign that engaged the community beyond WEAAD, and across Victoria,” said Kamil.
“More than 50 groups across the state have gathered to create Warm Safe Homes, and many of these groups will meet again to exhibit them, ensuring WEAAD extends far beyond a single day in 2024.
“We believe this public campaign will raise awareness about the signs and prevalence of elder abuse, where to go to get help, and reinforce the right of older people to feel safe at home.”
Seniors Rights Victoria is supporting others’ WEAAD events throughout the state, culminating in a 13 June launch of the Warm Safe Home project and online exhibition at the City of Melbourne’s Swanston Hall.
A full listing of events, WEAAD social media tiles and resources, and assistance for those experiencing or at risk of elder abuse resources, is available on the WEAAD website, elderabuseawarenessday.org.au.
Avital Kamil is also available for further comment or interviews.
If you are in Victoria and experiencing elder abuse, help is available through Seniors Rights Victoria’s confidential helpline on 1300 368 821. Our website – seniorsrights.org.au – also features resources for concerned friends or family members.
For nationwide assistance, and to access additional resources in 20 different languages, please contact the Australian Human Rights Commission on 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374).
If it is an emergency, call 000.
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Further context
Elder abuse comes in many forms. It can be financial, emotional, psychological, physical, sexual, or social. Elder abuse can occur once or many times and can vary in severity from subtle through to extreme and can include one or a combination of the different types of abuse.
Elder abuse is most often perpetrated by someone known to and trusted by the older person, such as family members, relatives, or friends with two thirds of reported elder abuse being perpetrated by the adult children of an older person.
Elder abuse affects people of all genders and all walks of life. The abuse, however, disproportionately affects women – two-thirds of people seeking help from SRV are women.
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and LGBTQI+ communities are additionally vulnerable to elder abuse, as are older people living in rural and regional communities.
For further information/interviews with Avital Kamil
Steve Wright
Marketing and Communications Manager
Telephone: +61 3 9655 2159
Email: communications@cotavic.org.au
About us
Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) is the key state-wide service dedicated to advancing the rights of older people and the early intervention into, or prevention of, elder abuse in our community. It is the only Community Legal Centre dedicated to preventing and responding to elder abuse within Victoria.
SRV has a team of experienced advocates, lawyers, and social workers who provide free information, advice, referral, legal advice, legal casework, and support to older people who are either at risk of or are experiencing elder abuse. SRV supports and empowers older people through the provision of legal advice directly to the older person.
https://seniorsrights.org.au | https://elderabuseawarenessday.org.au
Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria is the leading not-for-profit organisation representing the interests and rights of people aged over 50 in Victoria. For over 70 years, we have led government, corporate and community thinking about the positive aspects of ageing in the state.
Today, our focus is on promoting opportunities for and protecting the legal rights of people 50+. We value ageing and embrace its opportunities for personal growth, contribution, and self-expression. This belief drives benefits to the nation and its states alongside communities, families, and individuals.