People of all ages differ in their skills, interests and abilities. Older people are as capable, worthy and useful as younger members of the community. Knowledge and experience gained by older people from careers, volunteer activities, sporting interests and relationships is a valuable asset to everyone.

We have been collecting thoughts and ideas from older people in our community about what they can do and how they would like to be seen. By sharing these with the wider community we can help to change expectations about what it means to get older.

We invite you to contribute to this positive ageing activity to help show all members of the community how unique older people really are.

By changing the way we think about getting older we have the chance to work together to create a society where every person is valued, connected and respected, regardless of age and health. Positive community and self-perceptions about ageing are good for all of us.

Older people have written on cards like the one below so we can share them at events or turn them into videos for everyone to see.

How can you contribute?

If you are aged over 60 we'd love to hear more about what you can do and how you would like to be seen so we can share your thoughts with the wider community. There are lots of ways you can share. Try one or more of the following:

1. Visit our comments page to add your comments and we will turn them into cards like the one on the right.
   
   
2. Send a photo of yourself at work, volunteering, playing sport, playing music, cooking, gardening, dancing or whatever it is you love to do to Michelle at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
   
   
3. Watch and share our English language video
   
   
4. Watch and share our Chinese language video
   
   
5. Follow our Ageing: Challenge your thinking Facebook page

Are you interested to learn more about ageism (age discrimination) and how it supports an environment where elder abuse can occur or is accepted? Check out the links below for more information.

Ageism

• Are you ageist? - Quiz
• Imagine a world without ageism - video
• EveryAGE counts - website
• Challenging ageism - fact sheet

Elder abuse

• Elder abuse: what is it? - web page
• Concerned about an older person? - booklet
• Compass: Guiding action on elder abuse - website

Need help?

• Seniors Rights Victoria - 1300 368 821 
  
• Office of the Public Advocate- 1300 309 337
• 1800RESPECT - 1800 737 732 
  
• Mensline - 1300 78 99 78 

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call Triple zero (000)

Ageing: Challenge your thinking is SMPCP's e-newsletter focussing on the primary prevention of elder abuse. Articles discuss how to challenge drivers of elder abuse such as ageism. There's also information about local events, resources to help 'stop abuse before it starts' and links to training in identifying those at risk as well as recognising and responding to signs of abuse.

June 2022

Additional past issues can be accessed on our archive page.

To recieve future editions directly to your inbox, subscribe by filling in the boxes below and click on the 'subscribe' button.

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Well-known Australian comedian, speaker and social activist Rod Quantock OAM joined with the SMPCP Elder Abuse Prevention Network to create a podcast series Rod Quantock gets serious about ageingto encourage young and old alike to:

• challenge ageist and sexist attitudes
• empower older people to know their rights and act on them
• raise awareness of elder abuse, including what it is and where to get help if desired

Light in tone yet addressing a serious subject, the podcast series delves into the hidden issue of age discrimination and elder abuse.

Rod says “I made the podcast for people young and old alike because we, as a society, need to step up to challenge ageist and sexist attitudes and to empower older people to know their rights and act on them. Becoming older does not mean that your rights are in any way diminished. Ageism leads to people not respecting older people and contributes to the attitudes that lead to the inappropriate treatment of older people.” 

Rod hopes this reasonably serious podcast series can assist in raising the community’s awareness of age discrimination and elder abuse.

Episode 1: Rod Quantock gets serious about ageing

Features Rod interviewing:

• Gerard Mansour, Commissioner for Senior Victorians and Ambassasdor for Elder Abuse Prevention
• Gary Ferguson, Community Education Manager – Seniors Rights Victoria
• Michelle Lord, Elder Abuse Prevention Network Project Lead – Southern Melbourne Primary Care Partnership

This episode also importantly aims to raise awareness of elder abuse, including what it is and where to get help if desired.

Episode 2: Older, active and valued

Features Rod being interviewed by Colin Tyrus about his active life as an older Australian.

Episode 3: Are you ageist and does it matter?

Features Colin Tyrus speaking with two older Australians about what ageism looks like and the impact it has on everyday lives.

Listen to all episodes in the Rod Quantock gets serious about ageing podcast series:

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• Media player:    Episode 1    |    Episode 2   |    Episode 3

After listening, please fill in our very quick survey to let us know your thoughts and help us develop more interesting content in the future.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Social media toolkit 2020

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is held on June 15 every year and aims to raise awareness of this significant form of family violence. 

Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust such as a family member or friend. Abuse may be financial, psychological, physical, social, or sexual and includes mistreatment and neglect.

To raise awareness of elder abuse in 2020, the SMPCP Elder Abuse Prevention Network launched a podcast Rod Quantock gets serious about ageing.We invite you to help spread the word by using the social media tools listed below.

Suggested Facebook text

On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – June 15, comedian and social activist @rodquantock gets serious about ageing in a new podcast which encourages young and old alike to:

• challenge ageist and sexist attitudes
• empower older people to know their rights and act on them
• raise awareness of elder abuse, including what it is and where to get help if desired

The podcast tackles the serious issue of elder abuse in a light tone and features Rod Quantock interviewing:

• Gerard Mansour, Commissioner for Senior Victorians and Advocate for Elder Abuse Prevention
• Gary Ferguson, Education Co-ordinator – Seniors Rights Victoria
• Michelle Lord, Elder Abuse Prevention Network Project Lead – Southern Melbourne Primary Care Partnership

Links to listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple podcasts, google podcasts, or media players can be found at http://www.smpcp.org.au/index.php/our-work/projects/eapn/podcast

#WEAAD #SeniorsRights #worldelderabuseawarenessday

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Links to the podcast can be found at www.smpcp.org.au/index.php/our-work/projects/eapn/podcast

www.facebook.com/ageingchallengeyourthinking

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