www.seniorsrights.org.au

A Complex Marriage

Jenny Blakey

Manager

2012

www.seniorsrights.org.au

Where are we?

www.seniorsrights.org.au

What is Seniors Rights Victoria?

• A statewide free community service established in 2008 to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights of older Victorians

• SRV works with Victorians 60 + years at risk of or experiencing elder abuse. For Indigenous Australians the criteria is 45 + years.

www.seniorsrights.org.au

What is Seniors Rights Victoria?

• Established as part of the Victorian Government’s Elder Abuse Prevention Strategy

• Joint venture:– Council on the Ageing Victoria (COTA)– Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH)– Eastern Community Legal Centre– Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre

www.seniorsrights.org.au

A Rights-based Approach

• Age discrimination is unacceptable• Older people have rights• It is NOT OK to abuse or mistreat older

persons• Older people should be able to live in

safety and dignity• Older people should feel and be

safe and secure

www.seniorsrights.org.au

What SRV does

• To older people living in the community• Telephone information and referral service, Legal

advice and casework • Short term individual advocacy and support

• Information and advice to service providers• Community education• Stakeholder engagement • Systemic policy and law reform

www.seniorsrights.org.au

Snapshot of Call Data2010/11

• SRV Helpline received of 1592 elder abuse-related calls (an average of 132+ a month).

• 695 advices given, of which 271 by advocates and 447 by lawyers

• A total of 332 cases were opened and 232 closed

www.seniorsrights.org.au

Benefits

• Integrated assessments and casework

• Quickly identify legal time limits

• Quickly identify social, health, family or accommodation issues

• Rights perspective

• Law reform

www.seniorsrights.org.au

Disadvantages

• Reluctance to talk to lawyer

• Reluctance to take legal action• Mode of conflict resolution

www.seniorsrights.org.au

Challenges

• Method of resolving conflict

• Confidentiality of client

• Who is the client – individual or family

www.seniorsrights.org.au

Challenges

• Incapacity and no substitute decision maker

• Duty of care vs client’s instructions

www.seniorsrights.org.au

• Telephone Help Line 1300 368 821• Specialised Legal Service• Advocacy• Interpreters used• Probono Clinics – Bundoora, Niddrie,

Caulfield, Footscray• Community education programs • Service Promotion• Website: www.seniorsrights.org.au

Seniors Rights Victoria