World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) takes place on 15 June every year. It is an opportunity for communities to come together and stand against the abuse, mistreatment and neglect of older people.
This year, we draw attention to the different ways that older women experience ageism and how we can all contribute to change.
Preventing elder abuse in older women
The effect of gender inequality builds through younger years and adulthood. It affects older women the most. Experiences of ageism intersect with gender, and other diverse identities or circumstances.
This is why the Victorian Government has provided an additional $20,000 to each of the 8 Elder Abuse Prevention Networks (EAPNs). The funding is to support initiatives to address elder abuse, with a particular focus on older women who are significantly more at risk than men.
The $160,000 one-off commitment supports the delivery of Our Equal State – Victoria’s gender equality strategy and action plan 2023-2027.
The 8 Elder Abuse Prevention Networks deliver local action to raise awareness of elder abuse and prevent it from happening in the first place. The funding reflects the importance of applying a gendered lens to prevention activities.
Many older women can feel forgotten or overlooked in efforts to end gendered violence. A lifetime of gender inequity impacts the kind of help available, and the barriers to reporting and support.
We all have a part to play in ensuring older women count in our families, our communities, and our society every day of the year.
There are many ways to learn more and get involved this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day:
Take part in Celebrate Ageing’s #TheBiscuitTin program, challenging ageism and sexism one batch of biscuits at a time.
Explore the [un]Silencing of Older Women resources. Learn how gender inequality is experienced by older women and how to address elder abuse with a gender lens.
Check out Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria’s Beyond Age exhibition, where older people share advice to their younger selves.
Centre the voices and lived experience of older women and people in your daily life.
Building workforce skills
It’s important that older people can access the help they need. Building workforce capability is a way to ensure this happens.
To support, the Victorian Government will invest $600,000 over two years for the new Elder Abuse Capability Development Program.
This 2-year program aims to increase the capability of specialist family violence workers to identify and respond appropriately to elder abuse.
Co-leads Safe and Equal and COTA Victoria will work in partnership to develop and deliver the program. This includes a suite of training modules and resources for staff at specialist family violence case management services, including The Orange Door.
More information
Where to get help
Help is available if you are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, elder abuse. Call the free elder abuse helpline on 1300 368 821 from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
If you are a concerned friend or family member, please encourage the older person to call the elder abuse helpline or reach out to a trusted health professional.
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 000.
Learn more
For more information and ways to get help, visit: