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Submission to the Joint Committee on matters relating to Elder Abuse in South Australia

March 2017

COTA SA is an older people's movement run by, for and with older people. We represent the aspirations, interests and rights of 590,000 older South Australians. COTA SA was founded in 1957 and is part of a national federation. We work closely with partner organisations to reach the rich diversity of older South Australians and run an active policy agenda on a wide range of issues.

This submission responds to the terms of reference for the Joint Committee of the Parliament of South Australia on matters relating to Elder Abuse. We welcome the committee's inquiry and share its commitment to understand, review and improve our community's responses to older people who experience abuse.

This submission is consistent with a recent submission made by COTA Australia with input from state and territory COTAs to the Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry Protecting the Rights of Older Austalians from Abuse.

Summary of Recommendations

Recommendation 1
COTA SA recommends a South Australian prevalence study as proposed in the Strategy to Safeguard the Rights of Older South Australians Action Plan 2015 - 2021 and urges a cooperative approach with other states and territories and with the federal government. This collaboration between federal, state and territory governments should aim to achieve at a minimum -

• a common definition of abuse
• a national prevalence study
• a national framework for elder abuse prevention
• a clearing house for the compilation, exchange and research of better practice.

Recommendation 2
COTA SA recommends consideration of a single, multidisciplinary agency with designated responsibility to respond to abuse and coordinate interagency work.

Recommendation 3
COTA SA recommends steps to ensure that older people experiencing elder abuse have access to independent, free legal services and support along with assistive technologies in presenting evidence.

Recommendation 4
COTA SA recommends the establishment of evaluation tools and processes that track the outcomes of reports of abuse that are made to responding agencies. As much as possible these should use nationally consistent defi nitions.

Recommendation 5
COTA SA recommends the development of forums which provide opportunities for services and agencies to discuss prevalence and to address barriers to reporting and successful responses.

Recommendation 6
COTA SA recommends the development of the next stages of the Elder Abuse Prevention Phone Line following its evaluation in 2016 with attention to addressing access by diverse older people.

Recommendation 7
COTA SA recommends a review of well-being, inclusion and safety net services for older people who do not need or get aged care to ensure vulnerable and isolated older people are not left without support in the post HACC world. Recommendation 8 COTA SA recommends investment in a suite of peer education modules and approaches that enable olderpeople to be alert to both their own and their peer's rights and responsibilities, and new modules that support financial literacy, independence, and understanding of rights and remedies.

Recommendation 9
COTA SA supports the development of the South Australian Charter of the Rights and Freedoms of Older People and for the Charter to become part of the policies and procedures of South Australian Government departments.

Recommendation 10
COTA SA recommends public awareness campaigns and targeted training programs to encourage reporting and action for those who work with older people in a professional capacity.

Recommendation 11
COTA SA recommends that the State Government lead a campaign to promote new attitudes to our ageing.

Recommendation 12
COTA SA recommends that the State Government works with industry and research to understand the barriers to digital inclusion for large numbers of older people and develop practical support to improve digital inclusion.

Download a copy of the full submission

For further information or advice regarding the content of this document please contact:
JANE MUSSARED
Chief Executive COTA SA

 

COTA SA acknowledges the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains as the traditional custodians of the land our headquarters occupy. We also acknowledge all Aboriginal nations throughout South Australia. We honour Aboriginal peoples’ continuing connection to Country and recognise that their sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal people.