Palaszczuk Budget aims to eliminate elder abuse in Mackay

Elder abuse prevention is at the forefront of the Palaszczuk Government’s 2018-19 Budget for seniors in the Mackay region, with financial and legal services set to be expanded.

The Palaszczuk Government will expand the elder abuse prevention services and establish five new seniors legal and support services in Gladstone, Rockhampton, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Mackay through funding of $900,000 per annum over three years from 2017-18.

Minister for Seniors Coralee O’Rourke today (19 June) visited the new seniors legal and support service in Mackay to hear first-hand about how the new local service would help older residents.

“The establishment of a seniors legal and support services in Mackay is an important step towards eliminating elder abuse right across Queensland,” Mrs O’Rourke.

“We will also continue to fund existing services in Toowoomba, Brisbane, Hervey Bay, Cairns and Townsville.”

Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said, “along with the other new seniors service, this service here in Mackay will be able to assist seniors by providing advice about how they can empower themselves against elder abuse.”

Relationships Australia Queensland will be managing the new elder abuse prevention and support services in Mackay.

Relationships Australia Queensland CEO Ian Law said the service provided assistance to seniors who are experiencing, or at risk of, elder abuse through individualised support and referral.

“We provide a case managed support approach in combination with expert legal advice provided by our brokered legal services as required,” Mr Law said.

“Our service model enables referral and improved access to counselling and mediation services, when often the abuse is perpetrated by a known family member or friend.

“We are also hoping to encourage conversations and awareness of elder abuse.

“It’s a hard conversation to have, but it’s the only way if we as a society want to help a group of people that can be hard to reach because of the shame and social isolation that accompanies being abused.”

The $900,000 per annum funding also includes an extra $200,000 each year for the state-wide Elder Abuse Prevention Unit.

The Government is continuing to provide an extra $100,000 per year for the next two years to expand the Seniors Enquiry Line to improve services that allow seniors to access expertise and advice on consumer protection issues and scams.

“Our seniors have worked hard contributing to their thriving communities for their entire lives and they deserve to live free from elder abuse and financial scams,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“We’re delivering on our commitment to tackle elder abuse in Queensland, by funding services that will provide older Queenslanders with advice and support, so they can protect themselves from this serious issue.”

For more information about the 2018-19 State Budget, go to https://budget.qld.gov.au/

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Media Contact: Benjamin Mulcahy 0419 562 389