The state government will fund 10 elder abuse networks to work at a community level and focus on the prevention of elder abuse.

South West Carer and Respite Services Network has been selected as the partner network for South West Victoria.

South West Carer and Respite Services Network Coordinator Wendy Jones said it had been recognised that elder abuse was an increasing issue and it needed to be addressed.

“Violence prevention is everybody’s business,” she said.

She said there were many ageist stereotypes which needed to be challenged, including negative assumptions that older people were incapable of learning new things, that they didn’t know what was best for themselves and that they were a burden on society.

Elder abuse is any form of violence or mistreatment that causes harm to an older person and occurs within a relationship of trust.

The abuse may be physical, social, financial psychological or sexual and can include mistreatment and neglect. 

Seniors Rights Victoria will support the work by conducting research on the project and manager Jenny Blakey said prevention of elder abuse was important given the rising number of older people in Australia, the reluctance to seek help and the damage to family relationships that could occur.