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Compass Elder Abuse Website

Compass is a national website created to help older Australians navigate the complex issue of elder abuse and to guide action to end the problem. It serves as a comprehensive resource for individuals, families and professionals seeking information and support related to the mistreatment of older adults.

History

In 2019 the Australian Government published its National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians (Elder Abuse) 2019–2023. The plan, developed in collaboration with state and territory governments, summarises the priority areas for governments to focus on. Compass was created to help fulfil ‘Priority Area 2: Improving community awareness and access to information'.

Elder Abuse in Australia

The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), were commissioned by the Attorney-General's Department (Australia) to produce the National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study, It was published in December 2021 and it states that elder abuse is:

“A single or repeated act, or failure to act, including threats, that results in harm or distress to an older person. These occur when there is an expectation of trust and/or where there is a power imbalance between the party responsible and the older person.”

The study revealed that it takes different forms: Psychological Abuse, Financial abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual abuse, or Neglect. It may involve a combination of these forms, and it can look different every time. Contributing factors can be obvious or subtle, simple or multiple, personal or institutional.

Elder Abuse can occur in all kinds of relationships: between family generations, with intimate partners, and in non-family relationships, such as those involving carers, professionals and neighbours.

Elder Abuse Action Australia Role

The Compass website is led by Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA), a specialist organisation working to eliminate elder abuse. It was created in response to the National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians (Elder Abuse) 2019–2023. It is funded by the Attorney-General's Department and is an Australian Government initiative.

EAAA Staff

Board of Directors: Sue Leitch (Co-Chair), Diedre Timms (Co-Chair), Helen Wallace, Vicki Wood, Graeme Tolhurst, Medha Gunawardana, Rebecca Edwards, Tara Simpson, Brian Attard.

EAAA Staff: Bev Lange (Executive Officer), Brigitte Jonas (Events Manager).

Compass Website Staff

Brett Osmond (Editor), Jamie Carroll (Content Producer).

Compass also works in partnership with many support groups and organisations around Australia and with academic researchers, health and legal professionals, and other contributors.

Objective

In line with the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, EAAA aims, through advocacy, policy development, research and capacity building, to foster a society that is free from elder abuse and respects and values older Australians. Through the Compass website, EAAA aim to raise awareness of this growing social issue, provide information about how to recognise the signs of abuse, and to make it easier for people to find services and information that can help them.

Overview of Content

The website outlines the EAAA’s mission and vision, explains elder abuse and the various forms it can take, and suggests ways to respond to and help prevent elder abuse. The main sections are:

Information: understanding, preventing and responding to elder abuse.

Topics: articles, guides and information about related topics such as Guardianship, Enduring Power of Attorney and Family Relationships.

Find Help: links to support services and organisations across Australia that offer help to victims of elder abuse, their families and support networks.

News and Resources: a library of resources, such as articles, factsheets, reports and videos that provide guidance and additional information in relation to protecting older Australians.

Media Campaign

On July 21, 2024, the Australian Government launched a national four-month campaign to raise awareness about elder abuse.

The campaign, ‘Ending the abuse of older people begins with a conversation’ aimed to encourage conversations within the community on the issue, and to increase awareness that there is help and support available.

The investment of $4.8 million in the campaign targeted a key priority identified under the National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians (Elder Abuse) 2019-2023 - to increase community awareness and access to information on this issue.

It referenced the Australian Government-funded 1800ELDERHelp phone line and the Compass website.

See Also

• Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business
• Elder Abuse: News and Resources:
• Elder Abuse: Find a Service Provider.