Older migrants and refugees require accessible and culturally appropriate services to address elder abuse as a form of family violence.
Seniors Rights Victoria sees a range of elder abuse problems experienced by older people. Those from migrant and refugee backgrounds may experience any or all of these issues and there is no clear evidence to say any particular culture or community experiences elder abuse at higher or lower rates than any other. However, older migrants and refugees, particularly those from non-English speaking backgrounds, those who have recently arrived in Australia or live within newly established communities, and those who have experienced trauma, may experience particular challenges when recognising abuse; accessing information; services and support; and seeking redress and recovery.
This submission will highlight some of the issues observed in clients of the SRV helpline and advice service, while acknowledging that many older people do not access support for elder abuse, due to a multitude of barriers and the experiences of those who use our services are only indicative of the need within the wider community.