Preventing elder abuse

Elder abuse prevention networks

Eight elder abuse prevention networks deliver local action to raise awareness of elder abuse and prevent it from happening using a primary prevention approach.

The networks include a range of representatives, including community groups, organisations or businesses that work with or provide services to older people and others.

The networks are led by:

Toolkit for Elder Abuse Prevention Networks

This guide is intended as a practical resource to support and strengthen the role of Elder Abuse Prevention Networks (EAPNs) working to drive social change at a local level. Building on the success of a Community of Practice (CoP) model, and incorporating collective impact theory, the guide provides practical tools to build sector capacity to undertake primary prevention of elder abuse and drive greater impact across Victoria.

For more information and to download the guide visit the Eastern Community Legal Centre website.

Culturally and linguistically diverse communities

The Victorian Government funds the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) to raise community awareness of elder abuse in multicultural communities. The project delivers community sessions in first language by trained bi-lingual educators.

For more information, visit Elder abuse prevention in ethnic communities.

Awareness raising

The Victorian Government is raising awareness of elder abuse as an unacceptable form of family violence through diverse mediums.

Respect Victoria leads the elder abuse awareness raising campaign 'Respect Older People: Call it out. Access to this material is available via the Respect Victoria website, which includes videos and downloadable resources in different languages.

The campaigns aim to create awareness around elder abuse to:

  • prevent it from happening in the first place
  • educate the public on where and how it starts.

Through these campaigns, Respect Victoria encourages healthy discussions around attitudes of ageism and entitlement that often underpin elder abuse.

The community must have a clear understanding of the rights of older people and how those rights can be protected. This includes knowing the signs of elder abuse and where to go for advice and support.

The campaigns urge those in contact with older people to speak up when early signs of elder abuse are noticed to stop elder abuse from escalating.

Your Voice – Trust Your Choice

The ‘Your Voice – Trust Your Choice’ booklet is for older people. It includes helpful tips, case studies, and sample wording to assist you to think about, and make, your enduring power of attorney.

This booklet was published in June 2017.

For more information, see Your Voice – Trust Your Choice on the OPA website.

See also the booklet, Take Control, on the OPA website, to be read with Your Voice – Trust Your Choice.