Launching Safe, Valued, Respected – A Primary Prevention Framework for Elder Abuse
Leave a CommentEarlier this week, Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) welcomed a number of special guests and over 100 registrants to the launch of Safe, Valued, Respected – A Primary Prevention Framework for Elder Abuse. Due to COVID restrictions, the event was held online.
ECLC CEO, Michael Smith, welcomed attendees and acknowledged the growing recognition from government and community partners around the importance of understanding, preventing and responding to abuse directed to older people in the community.
“Safe, valued and respected. So easy to say, but still such a challenge to achieve in some parts of our community. Safety is only a first step, we have a broader vision – value and respect. We want to see the contributions of older people celebrated and an end to ageism.”
The Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Chair of the Victorian Elder Abuse and Safeguarding Advisory Group, Anthony Carbines MP, was the guest speaker for the launch. He spoke about the importance of this issue for him personally and for the Victorian Government.
“Earlier this month, we observed World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to focus public attention on the significant impacts of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue. Events like today help us continue shining a light on these important issues.”
The Australian Attorney-General The Hon Senator Michaelia Cash sent a video message congratulating Eastern Community Legal Centre on the launch of their primary prevention framework and spoke about the Federal Government’s work in the area of elder abuse.
“Elder abuse is a complex health and social problem that can have devastating physical, emotional and social consequences for older people, their families and their communities. The Federal Government is committed to preventing and responding to elder abuse.”
Other highlights included (videos below):
- Video presentations from local community members talking about ageism
- Short film and song, written and performed by Coco and Jet Batu-Sampson
- Working across the prevention spectrum by Nikki Harris-Allan, ECLC’s ELSA Partnership Coordinator
- Overview of the Framework by Jill Exon, ECLC’s Elder Abuse Prevention Coordinator
- Sharon Porteous from Inner East PCP and John Le from Manningham City Council showcasing examples of anti-ageism work from the Eastern Metropolitan Region
- Other local organisations talking about their primary prevention and response work
- Q&A session with all the panellists and plenty of robust discussion around primary prevention and the challenge of elder abuse in our local communities
Videos from the event are below. Please visit www.eclc.org.au/elderabuse for more information on this important work and how we can all play a meaningful role in ensuring everyone is safe, valued and respected throughout their lives.
Thank you to everyone who attended and made it such a successful event with great discussions and a strong commitment to further work in the year ahead.