Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) Elder Abuse Discussion Paper 83 (Discussion Paper).
SRV is the key statewide service that provides leadership across Victoria by addressing and responding to older people experiencing abuse and mistreatment – known as “elder abuse”. SRV is a program of COTA Victoria and services include a helpline, specialist legal services, short-term support and advocacy for individuals, and professional and community education. SRV also participates in elder abuse policy development and law reform, and work with organisations and groups to raise awareness of elder abuse. Over the past eight years of operation SRV has become the leading Victorian legal and advocacy elder abuse service. Details of SRV’s operations and experience were previously detailed to the ALRC in the Elder Abuse Issues Paper – Submission 141.
In this submission SRV has responded to each chapter of the Discussion Paper, with a focus on the proposals and questions related to SRV’s specific case work and policy expertise. In the process, SRV has identified some key messages for the consideration of the ALRC, as well as specific recommendations.