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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 7 Hansard (5 June) . . Page.. 1940 ..

MS DUNDAS (continuing):

Elder abuse is a growing concern to many people in the community sector. In the past, it was one of those problems that were never talked about. It is similar to child abuse or domestic violence prior to the 1970s, when it didn't happen because it occurred in private, and its existence was denied and actually ignored.

But then abuse that occurred in private started to be talked about. The talk continued through the 80s and now is the time for action to recognise the problem and to combat it.

Elder abuse is being talked about more, and agencies are coming across people who are suffering from psychological, physical, financial and sexual neglect. All are forms of abuse. There are a whole lot of causes and issues around elder abuse, and it is not only between families and friends; there is also systems abuse.

Abuse occurs through a lack of support and through neglect. It occurs when stand-over tactics are used by families, friends and service providers. Every time an older person is pressured into decisions that they may not like-and this includes creating burdensome expectations without consulting the wishes of the older person-this is an occurrence of elder abuse.

It also happens when families just assume that financial support, babysitting or similar things are owed to them. But the question should be: what do the grandparents actually want to do? The ignoring of the wishes of our older family members is a common form of mild elder abuse.

The treatment inflicted on some older people every day would not be accepted in the workplace, in our schools or in public. But it is going on every day behind closed doors.

Older people, like all Canberrans, have a right to live safely in their own homes free of violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation. The motion have moved today will once again bring this issue to the forefront and make the government respond.

The recommendations from the Standing Committee on Health and Community Care, in its report No 11 tabled last year, are quite clear and will require a multi-agency approach. It will require policy changes to ensure an end to the social isolation felt by many. It will require mandatory reporting similar to that which exists in respect to child abuse, and it will require review of the Powers of Attorney Act.

Further, I would like to see a comprehensive education program-education of our elderly about their rights and their families about their responsibilities-and a discussion in the community about how we look after our older Australians.

I have consulted with both the Council on the Ageing and the Older Women's Network and they are supportive of this motion. They believe that elder abuse will continue to occur in many forms until it is recognised by government and policy makers, families, friends and service providers, and then acted upon.

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