1. www.seniorsrights.org.au A Complex Marriage Jenny Blakey Manager 2012

2. www.seniorsrights.org.au Where are we?

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. www.seniorsrights.org.au Snapshot of Call Data 2010/11 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

8. 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

9. www.seniorsrights.org.au Disadvantages Reluctance to talk to lawyer Reluctance to take legal action Mode of conflict resolution

10. www.seniorsrights.org.au Challenges Method of resolving conflict Confidentiality of client Who is the client – individual or family

11. www.seniorsrights.org.au Challenges Incapacity and no substitute decision maker Duty of care vs client’s instructions

12. 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