With aged care reforms on the national agenda, the Wollongong Diocese is taking the lead locally, hosting a “Ageing with Confidence” community event to support older people and drive conversation about ageing well. Source: CatholicCare Wollongong.
Robert Fitzgerald, Age Discrimination Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, delivered the keynote address at the event, held on Friday.
Wollongong Bishop Brian Mascord addressed the pressing issues that are impacting older people within his diocese at the event, announcing a diocesan-wide education and awareness campaign addressing the often-hidden issue of elder abuse.
Bishop Mascord said elder abuse is “too often unseen, underreported and misunderstood”.
“As a Church grounded in the dignity of every human life, we cannot remain silent. We are called to bring this issue into the light”, Bishop Mascord said.
The event comes as the federal Government prepares to roll out a new Aged Care Act and the Support at Home program in November, reforming in-home aged care to help older people live independently at home for longer.
“Now, more than ever, older Australians deserve to be at the centre of decisions that affect their lives,” Michael Austin, CEO of CatholicCare Diocese of Wollongong, said.
“With the aged care system undergoing historic change, we must put people at the heart of that reform.”
“The reforms signal a shift toward more personalised, preventative support.
“This aligns strongly with the work CatholicCare has been doing for many years in our diocese, delivering community aged care that respects the voice, values and dignity of all.”
Commissioner Fitzgerald, a prominent advocate for older people’s rights, spoke on the urgent need to address structural ageism, protect against elder abuse, and promote positive ageing.
“It’s not ageing itself that creates barriers, but the societal attitudes and structures that discriminate based on age,” he said. “We must shift focus from age to the systemic biases that limit opportunities, rights and dignities for older Australians”.
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Wollongong event tackles Elder Abuse, Ageism and Reform (CatholicCare Wollongong)
