Published on 6 June 2023

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (or WEAAD) is Thursday June 15, 2023.

This important day highlights ‘”one of the worst manifestations of ageism and inequality in our society, elder abuse” (Seniors Rights Victoria, 2022).

To mark WEAAD and promote awareness of elder abuse and ageism, consider organising or participating in activities with your team.

To secure your team’s WEAAD pack, including: quizzes, prizes, posters, decorations and other resources, please contact:

Western Health’s Elder Abuse Liaison Officer Carla Wilkie: 0423 842103, elderabuseenquiries@wh.org.au

Actions and activities to engage your team

  • Wear purple

    Invite your team to wear purple on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, 2023.

    You can also distribute and wear a purple WEAAD ribbon throughout June.

  • Put up posters and change your email signature

    Put up WEAAD Senior’s Rights Vic (SRV) posters in your work area. Download the poster here.

    Change your email banner for WEAAD in June. Download the banner here.

     

  • Host a stir a cup for seniors event or hold a lunchtime quiz

    Consider hosting a ‘Stir a cup for seniors’ morning or afternoon tea. There is a modifiable event poster here.

    You could also host a lunchtime WEAAD Quiz with prizes.

    You can share your photos on social media and help promote and spread awareness of WEAAD, using the hashtag #WEAAD. You can also submit the images to the Western Health Virtual Staff Pinboard.

     

  • Undertake or promote free training and learning opportunities

    The Department of Families, Fairness & Housing Elder Abuse Learning Hub is a great resource to share with staff. It provides free, DFFH approved, on-demand elder abuse training.

    You can also share links to the elder abuse instructional videos on the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre:

    Talking about Elder Abuse

    Emotional Elder Abuse

    Financial Elder Abuse

    Or invite staff to listen to the Western Health Podcast: If Only Someone Had Asked. There is a special episode on elder abuse featuring WHEA LO Carla Wilkie

  • Share electronic resources with your team

    Here are two electronic resources you can share with your team, or colleagues:

    Take the: Every Age Counts: Are you Ageist quiz?

    Download the Australia’s First Elder Abuse Prevalence Study
    National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study: Final Report | Australian Institute of Family
    Studies (aifs.gov.au)

  • Take five minutes to raise awareness

    Take 5 minutes at the start of case conference or your team meeting & talk about
    WEAAD, ageism, the prevalence and the outcomes of elder abuse.

  • Volunteer your time on our WEADD pop-up stalls

    Volunteer to co-staff a WEAAD pop-stall (15/6/23) at one of our Western Health sites.

    There will be fun activities, prizes, and networking with other stall volunteers, consumers and WH colleagues. Otherwise, be sure to swing by the stall, complete the activities and collect your free coffee voucher!

  • Come up with a creative activity

    Get creative with activities that remind us about the value and richness that older
    people bring to our communities.

    In the past WH team activities have included: bake-off competitions, played music on the ward from different era’s, brought in objects that remind them of older people who have been important in their lives, invited guest speakers and had round table discussions, created videos of activities and responsibly shared them.