FINANCIAL ABUSE AMONG OLDER PEOPLE IN ABORIGINAL

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FINANCIAL ABUSE AMONG OLDER PEOPLE IN
ABORIGINAL CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY
DIVERSE COMMUNITIES

• Michelle Scott
• Public Advocate of Western Australia

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Office of the Public Advocate

• Independent statutory office
• Protect and promote rights of adults with a
  decision-making disability
• Guardianship Administration Act 1990

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Office of the Public Advocate

• Four main functions
• Investigations
• Guardian of last resort
• Community education
• Policies, programs and services
• Ageing population increasing demand

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Ageing, elder abuse and OPA clients

• In 2005-06, of around 600 investigations
• - 32 involved allegations of abuse
• - 33 victim was aged over 65 years
• - 67 reported allegations were of financial
  abuse

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Elder abuse in Aboriginal communities

• ATSI 3.5 of WA population
• 2001 Independent investigation into GA system
• Correlation between social disadvantage and
  disability
• Increasing levels of decision-making disability
• Aboriginal people at risk much younger than
  broader population

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Mistreatment of Older people in Aboriginal
communities

• 2005 research of this issue
• Two Aboriginal consultants
• Reference group
• Aboriginal Legal Service
• Derbarl Yerrigan Medical Service
• Indigenous Community Volunteers
• Aboriginal policy service staff from DoH DoJ.
• Report
• Mistreatment of Older People in Aboriginal
  Communities

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Reports key findings

• High level of concern among Aboriginal people
  about elder abuse
• Impact of elder abuse experienced earlier
• Financial abuse most commonly reported
• Want government to take issue seriously
• Want communities to be involved in developing
  local solutions

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Reports recommendations

• Targeted community education
• Culturally appropriate assessment
• Staff training and resources
• Housing and respite services
• Improved responsiveness from service providers

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Wider recognition
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Implementation

• Project to develop and trial unique elder abuse
  training package for Aboriginal staff
• Partnership with Curtin Uni and Marr Mooditj
• Drivers and focus Aboriginal people
• Launched in May

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Elder abuse in CALD communities

• 1996-2001 66 increase in no. of older
  Australians from CALD backgrounds
• 1996- 2001 23 increase in no. of older
  Australian born people
• More effective, targeted services required

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Care Respect Elder Abuse in CALD communities

• 2005 research project
• Consultation with CALD seniors and service
  providers
• Is it an issue?
• What constitutes elder abuse?
• How to identify and deal with elder abuse?
• How to raise awareness?
• Report
• Care and Respect Elder abuse in culturally and
• linguistically diverse communities

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Reports key findings

• Elder abuse is an issue in CALD communities
• Financial abuse of particular concern
• CALD seniors at risk due to
• Poor English skills
• Social isolation
• Unwillingness to report mistreatment
• Different expectations of care
• Kept hidden

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Reports recommendations

• Targeted research
• Culturally appropriate community education
• Improved interagency collaboration
• Improved resourcing of community workers
• Lead Government agency

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Conclusion

• More needs to be done
• Raise awareness in culturally appropriate ways
• Respectful of diversity of seniors
• Longer-term, strategic approach
• What can you do?