Wellington Primary Care Partnership was funded by the Office of Senior Victorians to implement the Elder Abuse Prevention Strategy (EAPS) for the Gippsland region.
Policies, Procedures & Inter-agency Protocols
A key component of the EAPS Strategy is the Primary Care Partnerships Community Awareness Grants Program, which aims to empower senior Victorians and ensure the development of a collaborative response across government departments, service and support sectors, older people and their families to prevent and address elder abuse.
An element of the Community Awareness Grants Program is to support the development of agency policies and procedures to respond and act on suspicion of elder abuse and to develop and review interagency protocols that enable cooperation in responding to elder abuse.
The Victorian Government’s strategic response to elder abuse affirms that Victoria’s existing services, and the networks that bind them at a local level, are appropriately placed to manage suspected and actual incidents of abuse.
Elder Abuse Prevention Kit
The Elder Abuse Prevention Information Kit is for the use of agencies within the Gippsland region wishing to enhance their responsiveness to cases of suspected and identified elder abuse.
It contains worksheets and resources in addition to a sample elder abuse policy, and sample interagency protocol. The sample policy and interagency protocol can be modified to your agency requirements, or adopted in full by your agency.
Elder Abuse Prevention Information Kit
Final Report
- EAPS Final Report Gippsland
- EAPS Progress Report 23 June 12
- EAPS Family Violence Forum Notes
- EAPS & FV Case Study
Additional Resources
Office of Senior Victorians
https://www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/services-information/commissioner-for-senior-victorians
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has released With respect to age – 2009, the Victorian Government practice guidelines for health services and community agencies for the prevention of elder abuse.
The guide is available in PDF format at http://www.health.vic.gov.au/agedcare/policy/index.htm
Hard copies of With respect to age – 2009 Victorian Government practice guidelines for health services and community agencies for the prevention of elder abuse may be ordered at any time from the Department of Human Services appointed distribution centre, Warehousing Fulfilment Distribution Solutions (WFDS).
Seniors Rights Victoria
Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) is a free service that has been established to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights, dignity and independence of older Victorians. It provides:
- telephone information and referral;
- advocacy and support;
- legal services; and
- community education.
People who are concerned about abuse or neglect that is affecting them or someone they know can call Seniors Rights Victoria on 1300 36 8821.
For further information go to www.seniorsrights.org.au