AGE Discrimination Commissioner Kay Patterson will be a speaker at this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference in Glenelg.
The event, presented by the Aged Rights Advocacy Service, will be held on June 15 at the Stamford Grand Adelaide.
The advocacy service has been raising awareness about elder abuse through its annual state conference since 2006 and has an impressive line-up of speakers this year.
They include NeuRA senior principal research fellow Professor Tony Broe; Multicultural Communities Council of SA chief executive Helena Kyriazopoulos; Northern Sydney LHD Aged Care and Rehab Network clinical director Professor Susan Kurrle; Disability SA senior practitioner Professor Richard Bruggemann; and University of SA Adjunct Associate Professor Dale Bagshaw.
“Until recently, this serious social problem was hidden from the public view and considered mostly a private matter,” said advocacy service strategic projects manager Louise Herft.
“Evidence is accumulating, however, to indicate that elder abuse is an important public health and societal problem with one in 20 older people experiencing some form of abuse.”
She said the purpose of the conference is to raise awareness of elder abuse prevention and to address how organisations can work together to respond promptly and appropriately to elder abuse issues.
- Aged Rights Advocacy Service, (08) 8232-5377.
To register go www.trybooking.com/book/search and search for ARAS World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference.
Elder abuse awareness
The United Nations General Assembly designated June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – a day when the world voices its opposition to the abuse and suffering inflicted on older people.
Elder abuse can be defined as any act occurring within a relationship where there is an implication of trust, which results in harm to an older person.
Abuse can be physical, sexual, psychological, financial, social and/or neglect.
- If you, or someone you know, is being abused, contact the SA Elder Abuse Prevention phone line, 1800-372-310, weekdays.