Philippa Campbell, who was the first Advocate at Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) when it was established in 2008, sadly died on Friday 24 February, much too early. Philippa worked with SRV for over 10 years until 2019.
During her period at SRV, Philippa was a pioneer in her development of our organisation's response to elder abuse from a human rights base. She went on to become the Advocacy Team Leader. Philippa was generous in her personal support to colleagues in her team and beyond.
Philippa’s contribution to responding to elder abuse in the community was invaluable. Her insights came from a compassionate understanding of what it means to age in a society, which so often dismisses older people as irrelevant.
Philippa had a strong role in the content and strategy of the successful SRV submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence which resulted in appearances before the Commission. The profile of elder abuse was raised by her strong contributions to the subsequent Victorian Government’s Family Violence Reform work, through multi-sector meetings, consultations, and input into the government’s prevention communications on elder abuse.
Philippa’s legacy will live on in those who were fortunate enough to have worked with her and those seniors, whose lives are safer and more dignified as a result of her being in the world. It is with this knowledge that we can take strength from what Philippa has left behind.
Image at top: Philippa Campbell accepting an award for ten years of service to Seniors Rights Victoria (via Gary Ferguson)
