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Get Support

Staying in charge of your life decisions

We all have the right to make our own choices on how we spend our money, where we live and who we see.  We want our choices to be respected and to live in a safe and comfortable environment.

For some older people, their wishes are not respected and they are taken advantage of by someone they know and trust.  This could involve a family member, carer or friend. No one should be treated this way.

This can look like:

  • Pressuring someone to make decisions that make them feel uncomfortable
  • Misusing someone’s finances beyond their authority to do so
  • Controlling whom they can see or where they can go

This could happen to you or someone you know.

Seeking Support

If you’re concerned this is happening to you or someone you know, there are free and confidential support services you can contact.  You’ll be speaking with a qualified person experienced in this area.

This one small step can make a world of difference.

In an Emergency, call the Police on Triple zero (000)

The police should be involved if there is an immediate risk of physical harm to family members or the older person.

Call: Triple zero (000)

police.vic.gov.au

Specialist Elder Abuse Services

The Orange Door – Bayside Peninsula

The Orange Door is a free service supporting people experiencing or using family violence, or who feel unsafe in their relationships, including with adult children, carers or friends.  It also supports families needing help with the care and wellbeing of children and young people.

The Orange Door will provide practical help for short-term needs and can connect people to longer-term services. Contact can be made by phone, email or in person at the Frankston, Hastings and Bentleigh sites.  A referral is not needed.

Call: 1800 319 353 or go to Support near you | orangedoor.vic.gov.au to find local services.

 

Better Place Australia

Better Place Australia supports older people experiencing any form of elder abuse or family conflict. Staff will work directly with the older person to provide support and options, and where safe and appropriate, may involve their family or carers.

Call: 1800 214 117 or go to betterplaceaustralia.com.au

Legal advice

Seniors Rights Victoria

Seniors Rights Victoria is a free service that provides information about the rights of older people.  They provide support, advice and education to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights, dignity and independence of older people.

Call: 1300 368 821 or go to seniorsrights.org.au

Peninsula Community Legal Centre

Peninsula Community Legal Centre offers free legal advice to people who live, work or study in the municipalities of Frankston, Casey, Cardinia, Glen Eira, Kingston and Mornington Peninsula.

The Centre helps people use the law to protect and advance their rights, offering free advice on most legal issues, including family law, family violence, fines, tenancy and rooming house advocacy.

Call: (03) 9783 3600 or go to pclc.org.au

Victorian Legal Aid

Victorian Legal Aid is helping Victorians with their legal problems.  They offer legal representation, family dispute resoulution and non-legal advocacy to those who need it most. They provide legal information, legal advice, and education with a focus on prevention and early resolution of legal problems. 

Call: 1300 792 387 or go to legalaid.vic.gov.au

Local Councils: Healthy Ageing and Connector Services

Contact your local council for the following services:

  • Healthy Ageing programs to support residents to live independently, stay active, and remain connected to their community.
  • Community Connector services to help residents navigate and connect to support services inlcuding aged care, home help, mental health support, housing, financial support, elder abuse and family violence support, and community services.

Glen Eira City Council

Healthy Ageing: call: 9524 3333 or email: HAgeing@gleneira.vic.gov.au

Connect Local: helping you stay active and social by connecting to local programs and activities.  Call: 1800 929 022 or Email: enquiries@connectlocal.org.au

Bayside City Council

Healthy Ageing: call: 9599 4373 or email: healthyageing@bayside.vic.gov.au

Care Finder to help older people navigate the aged care system and don’t have family or other supports to assist.  Call: 9599 4896 or email: relief@bayside.vic.gov.au

City of Monash

Healthy Ageing: call: 9518 3555 or email: AgeWell@monash.vic.gov.au

City of Kingston

Healthy Ageing: call: 1300 653 356.

Community Connector: call: 1300 653 356.

City of Port Phillip

Healthy Ageing: call: 9209 6777.

Community Connector: call: 9209 6882 or email communityconnector@portphillip.vic.gov.au

City of Stonnington

Healthy Ageing: call: 8290 3224 or email agedservices@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Community Connector: call: 8290 3224 or email agedservices@stonnington.vic.gov.au

City of Casey

Healthy Ageing: call: 9705 5200 or email: caseycc@casey.vic.gov.au

Community Connector: call: 9705 5271 or email: linkworker@casey.vic.gov.au

Mediation, Financial Counselling and Debt Support

Better Place Australia

Better Place Australia provides family mediation, counselling, financial counselling, and relationship education.

Call: 1800 639 523 or go to betterplaceaustralia.com.au

National Debt Helpline

The National Debt Helpline is a free information and advice service to help people get their finances back on track and provide solutions to manage debt.  It’s free and confidential.

Call: 1800 007 007 or go to ndh.org.au

Support with future planning

Office of the Public Advocate (OPA)

The Office of the Public Advocate can assist with information about enduring powers of attorney, enduring guardianship and administration, medical treatment decision making and making an advance care directive.

Call: 1300 309 337 or go to publicadvocate.vic.gov.au

General information and advocacy

COTA (Council on the Ageing) Victoria

COTA offers advice, referalls and information on issues impacting older Victorians, including:

  • Advocacy for rights
  • Health and Wellbeing programs
  • Empowerment and Education

Call: 1300 135 090 or go to cotavic.org.au

Elder Rights Advocacy

Elder Rights Advocacy provide information, advocacy, and social support to people seeking access to or using residential or in-home aged care services.  It’s free and confidential.

Call: 1800 700 600 or go to elderrights.org.au

Compass

Compass is a website created to help us better understand, prevent and respond to elder abuse.

Go to: compass.info

Ageing and Aged Care

My Aged Care

The Australian Government’s My Aged Care service helps you to access services and find information in one spot for yourself, a family member or friend.

They can provide some help around the house or support if you think it’s time to look into aged care homes.

Call: 1800 200 422 or go to myagedcare.gov.au

Care Finder

Some older people need extra, intensive support to access aged care services and other supports in the community.

Care finders is a free service to support vulnerable people – who have no one else who can support them – to learn about, apply for and set up support services.

Go to care-finder to find your local service

Scams and Digital Safety

eSafety

eSafety provides advice and support for older Australians on using the internet safely and protecting themselves online.

It also provides advice for online scams: how to keep your personal information safe to avoid being taken advantage of online.

Go to: esafety.gov.au