Elder Abuse Prevention Networks: North and West Metropolitan Regions
Working together to prevent elder abuse.
What is it?
The Elder Abuse Prevention Network (EAPN), led by Merri Health, delivers community based primary prevention activities in the North and West Metropolitan Regions of Victoria.
Who is it for?
The EAPN includes a committed group of professionals from community organisations and local government who are dedicated to preventing elder abuse in our community. Membership on the EAPN is free and voluntary.
How are we working together to make change?
The EAPN are committed to building a community where people of all ages are respected. We meet on a bi-monthly basis to collaborate on shared activities that:
- Challenge ageism and other drivers of elder abuse in the community
- Improve attitudes towards older people and ageing
- Build the capacity of professionals and community members to identify elder abuse and know where to get help
Location
Activities are conducted by member organisations across the Northern and Western suburbs of Melbourne.
Contact
Meg Humphrey (Elder Abuse Prevention Project Coordinator) at Merri Health.
Phone: 0475 689 308
Email: ElderAbusePreventionNetwork@merrihealth.org.au
Join the EAPN
Are you or someone you know experiencing elder abuse?
In an emergency, call the police on triple zero (000)
The police should be involved if there is an immediate risk of physical harm to an older person.
Phone triple zero (000) or visit www.police.vic.gov.au.
For support and advice for those concerned about elder abuse
Senior Rights Victoria
A free service that provides legal advice and information about the rights of older people, including secondary consultation for professionals. The provide support, advice and education to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights, dignity and independence of older people.
Phone: 1300 368 821
www.seniorsrights.org.au
To assess your risk and plan for safety
The Orange Door
Provides help for people experiencing family violence. Find a location near you |The Orange Door
To upload your safety and rights in aged care
Elder Rights Advocacy provide free and confidential advocacy services for problems to do with aged care.
Phone: 1800 700 600
Get support- Elder Rights Advocacy
If you are outside Victoria and have experienced, witnessed, or suspect elder abuse
The National Elder Abuse phone line (1800 ELDERhelp) provides information, support and referrals.
Phone: 1800 353 374
Elder abuse resources
- Digital Age Inclusivity and Accessibility Audit Tool
- A tool to support organisations to improve their webpages to be more accessible and inclusive for older people.
- Digital Age Inclusivity and Accessibility Audit Tool Report.
- Find out how the Digital Age Inclusivity and Accessibility Audit Tool was developed and how it aligns with with primary prevention strategies.
- Elder Abuse continuum poster
- A simple poster to visualise how different activities across the prevention continuum contribute to the overall goal of preventing elder abuse.
- Elder Abuse learning hub
- Free online modules to support professionals working with older people to respond to elder abuse.
- Seniors Rights Victoria
- Information, support and referral pathways.
- National Plan to Respond to Abuse of Older Australians (Elder Abuse) 2019 - 2023
- A high-level summary of the key focus areas for government over the 2019-23 period.
- National Elder Abuse Prevalence survey
- In response to the National Plan to respond to abuse of older Australians, the attorney general funded the National Elder Abuse Prevalence study was released in December 2021.
- Respect Older People: call it out
- A Victorian state-wide campaign that educates community about elder abuse and its drivers. Provides resources including posters, fact sheets, and wallet cards translated in five languages: Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese.
- Compass
- Developed by national peak body Elder Abuse Action Australia, this website offers a range of resources for prevention and responding to elder abuse for professionals, older people and families.
- Australian Human Rights Commission
- Information from the Age Discrimination Commissioner including videos and help sheets translated into 20 languages: Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, Filipino, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Macedonian, Maltese, Polish, Russian, Serbian and Vietnamese.
This initiative is funded by the Victorian State Government.
