This Sunday, 15 June 2014, the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV) marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day through continued advocacy and raising awareness of elder abuse in multicultural communities.
ECCV is currently working with the Filipino, Macedonian, Chinese, Greek, Serbian and Turkish communities to raise awareness about elder abuse in ethnic communities.
As part of the project, advisory groups made up of community members and service providers have met to discuss the issue and how it affects older people in their communities, and subsequently developed culturally appropriate information and trained bilingual workers to deliver community education on elder abuse.
“Elder abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of their gender, culture or religion, but it may be more hidden and under-reported in ethnic communities than in the general population,” ECCV chairperson Eddie Micallef said.
“ECCV’s advisory groups identified factors such as stigma about accepting help outside the family, not knowing where to go for help and increased dependency on adult children due to migration.
“We need culturally responsive services and ethnic community education – that’s why this project is so important.
“When communities talk openly about this issue, it gives people permission to speak up if they or someone they know is experiencing abuse. The needs and wellbeing of older people are as important as those of the rest of the family.”
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day events
Filipino community education sessions, “Promoting Respect, Dignity and Care”, delivered by trained bilingual community educators
o 19 June Salaginto Caring Group, Blackburn
o 30 June Filipino Community Council of Victoria, Footscray
o 11 July Ballarat Regional Multicultural Centre
Macedonian community education sessions “Dignity and Ageing in a new culture”
o Contact ECCV for upcoming sessions
Seniors Rights Victoria (who have partnered with ECCV in this project) are holding a forum on 16 June at Victoria University, Flinders St where ECCV’s new elder abuse film will have a “sneak preview” before it is launched later in the year
The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria Inc. (ECCV) is the Voice of Multicultural Victoria. As the peak body for ethnic and multicultural organisations in Victoria, ECCV has been the key advocate for culturally diverse communities in Victoria. It has been in operation since 1974. For 40 years ECCV has been the link between multicultural communities, government and the wider community.
For more details, please visit www.eccv.org.au
