It can be hard to know what to do if you are an older person experiencing abuse. It can also be challenging to know what to do if you are a witness to elder abuse, either in your family, your neighbourhood, through your work, or circle of friends.

This webinar brings together a panel of experienced professionals from various fields of expertise to help you better respond to abuse and neglect in all its forms.

Get practical information on what to do, and where you can turn for help in response to the abuse of older people.

- Get help to better uphold the rights of older Australians to live independent, autonomous lives that are free from abuse, mistreatment or neglect.
- Find out what key resources and services are available
Get key insights so you can navigate tricky issues and avoid common mistakes
- Be sure to have your questions ready and be part of this important conversation.

Panellists

Sadie Davis – Principal lawyer at Justice Connect
Sadie currently works at Justice Connect, a community legal centre. She is the principal lawyer in the Seniors Law team. Sadie is based at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney and works in a health justice partnership to provide legal assistance to older patients of SVH who are experiencing or at risk of elder abuse and to assist health workers at SVH by providing education and legal assistance.

Sadie has over 25 years experience as a lawyer working in community legal centres, in government and in private practice. In 2018 Sadie completed a Masters in Law in wills and estates.

Natasha Short – Managing Director of Kimberley Jiyigas and the Club Captain of the Maganda MakersNatasha is a descendant of the Jaru people of the Halls Creek community. Natashas work over the past 25 years has been around community development and investment into social change initiatives.

She has past experience in board memberships, and held various leadership roles over the past 20 years, including executive team appointments. In 2018, Natasha launched the business Kimberley Jiyigas (Birds) ‘A Movement of Kimberley Indigenous Women influencing Social Change’ to help create a voice for Indigenous women, promote Indigenous Culture and empower women around the world into business opportunities.

Natasha is the Managing Director of Kimberley Jiyigas and the Club Captain of the Maganda Makers initiative where Influencing social change through leadership and business development are a focus and passion.

In 2020, Kimberley Jiyigas produced the ‘No More Humbug – Reducing Aboriginal Financial Elder Abuse in Kimberley’ toolkit, featuring a number of resources for communities and stakeholders.

Dr Penny Webster – Staff Specialist in Geriatric MedicinePenny is a Specialist in Geriatric Medicine working with the Community Acute Post Acute Care (CAPAC) team in Newcastle, NSW. CAPAC encompasses Hospital in the Home, the Transitional Aged Care Program Rehabilitation in the Home and Health at Home which is a multidisciplinary hospital avoidance program for people aged 65 years and older and who are living in the community. Penny's practice includes home visits and residential care visits. Penny's interests include improving the quality of life for people living in the community and residential care, hospital avoidance, ageism, elder abuse, frailty, polypharmacy, dementia care and the management of the behavioural and psychological problems associated with dementia.

Michele Padbury – Senior Financial Counsellor with Vincent Care Victoria’s Hume Community Hub in Shepparton. She also works as a Financial Counsellor in Mansfield (Victoria). Michele has been a Financial Counsellor for over 19 years. She was part of the FCVic “Dignity and Debt: Financial Difficulty and Getting Older” initiative which was designed to address the effectiveness of one-on-one financial counselling sessions with Older Persons, including provision of consumer advocacy and information about financial hardship protections.