MORE than 500 delegates will gather in Sydney this month to tackle the subject of elder abuse in Australian society.
The 5th National Elder Abuse Conference will feature keynote addresses by federal Attorney-General Christian Porter, federal Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt, Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh, NSW Minister for Ageing Tanya Davies and shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus.
They will be joined by international speakers Susan B Somers (International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse), Professor Rebecca Morgan (chair in elder law, Stetson University, Florida) and Dr Jane Barratt (International Federation on Ageing secretary general).
"This conference brings much-needed attention to the overlooked issue of elder abuse," said conference ambassador Sue Pieters-Hawke. "Australia needs to take urgent action on this issue."
A key theme to be addressed is financial abuse - the most common form of abuse reported.
Titled Together Making Change, the conference will be an interactive event that will develop a final conference communique.
"We want to ensure that public enquiries over the past 18 months, such as the Australian Law Reform Commission Inquiry into Elder Abuse and the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Elder Abuse, as well as other recent aged care inquiries, are actioned," said Russell Westacott, chief executive of the Seniors Rights Service, which will host the conference.
"We want delegates to come together and advocate for change."
- The conference will be held at the Sofitel Hotel Wentworth in Sydney on February 19-20.
Details togethermakingchange.org.au
For more on the Seniors Rights Service, a leading community legal centre an aged care advocacy organisation, 1800-424-079, seniorsrightsservice.org.au
- At least 5 per cent of older people across Australia experience abuse. That's more than 182,000 people.
- Women are more likely to be victims of abuse by a staggering 250 per cent.
- Two-thirds of elder abuse in Australia is perpetrated by the adult children of the older person.
- By the year 2056, older people will make up about 22 per cent of the Australian population.
