The Western Australian Government has earmarked $210,000 in funding for the Council on the Ageing WA (COTA WA) to enable the organisation to continue its work in raising awareness of elder abuse.
Since 2020, the Department of Communities has funded COTA WA to raise awareness of measures that can protect seniors, particularly among harder to reach groups including Aboriginal people, people with disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
“The Council on the Ageing WA has for many years done outstanding work in advocacy and education for Western Australia’s seniors, and was last year, for the first time, funded to establish the Vulnerable Seniors Peak Body to specifically raise awareness of elder abuse,” said Seniors and Ageing Minister, Don Punch.
“As we know, elder abuse is largely hidden and under-reported, and it affects Western Australians of all backgrounds, often with devastating effects on victims and their families.
“Thanks to this new funding, COTA WA will be able to continue its partnerships in the sector to build public awareness on elder abuse prevention.”
Mr Punch said the $210,000 provided would enable COTA WA to continue to represent, advocate and promote the well-being of older people, particularly those who have been at greater risk of elder abuse and isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the funding was the latest in a series of initiatives designed to strengthen both Western Australia’s response to and awareness of the issue of elder abuse.
The State Government has also recently announced an additional $4 million over four years to establish Elder Rights WA, a State-wide elder abuse advocacy service within Legal Aid WA, to help combat elder abuse.
