Elder Abuse Prevention – Prevention Through Art and Organisational Capacity Building.
Tracks
Ballroom 3
| Wednesday, November 29, 2023 |
| 8:55 AM - 9:15 AM |
Overview
Kate Diamond-Keith, Ballarat Community Health
Speaker
Kate Diamond-Keith
Elder Abuse Prevention Project Coordinator
Ballarat Community Health
Elder Abuse Prevention – Prevention Through Art and Organisational Capacity Building.
Abstract
This presentation offers learnings and insights into the Ballarat Community Health Central Highlands Elder Abuse Prevention Network (CHEAPN) approach to prevention.
The CHEAPN, established in 2018 and has been supporting organisations and older people in the Central Highlands community to raise awareness of elder abuse and create strategies for prevention and improve response outcomes.
The Network is funded by the Victorian Government and operates through two strategies:
1. Organisational capacity building for prevention and response
2. Challenging ageism through art
Organisational capacity building is achieved through organisations joining the network. Network members participate in communities of practice and training to increase their knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to elder abuse. The project provides one to one support to organisations and community groups to build capacity through training, presentations and an action guide.
There are many resources available to support capacity building including:
• Helpful Hints for Action guide
• Dealing with Disclosures Policy
• Elder Abuse local services guide
• Communication package
See website https://bchc.org.au/services/elder-abuse-prevention/
Challenging ageism through art
Ageism and ageist attitudes are the driver of elder abuse in the community. To challenge ageist stereotypes Ballarat Community Health has undertaken a series of art workshops with older people to challenge ideas about ageism. In 2023 BCH undertook an intergenerational workshop series for older people and younger people to create a public art work. This art work was installed at the Ballarat Skate Park. In this presentation we will show a video with interviews with the artists about the art work and the artwork installation. See website https://bchc.org.au/services/elder-abuse-prevention/
Feedback from local organisations and art workshop participants is that the project has created change in attitudes towards older people. The organisational capacity building model increased staff knowledge/skills to prevent elder abuse and respond with confidence to support older people.
The CHEAPN, established in 2018 and has been supporting organisations and older people in the Central Highlands community to raise awareness of elder abuse and create strategies for prevention and improve response outcomes.
The Network is funded by the Victorian Government and operates through two strategies:
1. Organisational capacity building for prevention and response
2. Challenging ageism through art
Organisational capacity building is achieved through organisations joining the network. Network members participate in communities of practice and training to increase their knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to elder abuse. The project provides one to one support to organisations and community groups to build capacity through training, presentations and an action guide.
There are many resources available to support capacity building including:
• Helpful Hints for Action guide
• Dealing with Disclosures Policy
• Elder Abuse local services guide
• Communication package
See website https://bchc.org.au/services/elder-abuse-prevention/
Challenging ageism through art
Ageism and ageist attitudes are the driver of elder abuse in the community. To challenge ageist stereotypes Ballarat Community Health has undertaken a series of art workshops with older people to challenge ideas about ageism. In 2023 BCH undertook an intergenerational workshop series for older people and younger people to create a public art work. This art work was installed at the Ballarat Skate Park. In this presentation we will show a video with interviews with the artists about the art work and the artwork installation. See website https://bchc.org.au/services/elder-abuse-prevention/
Feedback from local organisations and art workshop participants is that the project has created change in attitudes towards older people. The organisational capacity building model increased staff knowledge/skills to prevent elder abuse and respond with confidence to support older people.
Biography
Kate has worked in community development and health promotion for over 20 years, both in local government and community health. Kate is the Elder Abuse Prevention Project Coordinator at Ballarat Community Health and has been in this position since 2018.
