Older Adults in the DV Response Landscape: The Importance of, and Barriers to, Inclusive Services
Tracks
Ballroom 1: In-Person & Online
| Tuesday, November 24, 2026 |
| 1:55 PM - 2:25 PM |
| Ballroom 1 |
Overview
Susan Cochrane, Relationships Australia
Three Key Learnings
1. How structural ageism leaves older adults in service deserts.
2. How services can dismantle structural ageism and empower older adults.
3. How relational services can be a powerful intergenerational intervention.
Speaker
Dr Susan Cochrane
National Policy Manager
Relationships Australia
Older adults in the DV response landscape: the importance of, and barriers to, inclusive services
Presentation Overview
The growing proportion of older adults in Australia coincides with increased awareness of violence against older adults, a new National Plan to End Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People, aged care reforms, and recent engagement by the Australian Government on an international convention on the rights of older persons.
Relationships Australia has provided universally accessible relationship services for nearly 80 years, including services to older adults experiencing harm at the hands of family members. We undertake research to inform our understanding of older adults and their relationships. Our clinical practice informs, and is informed by, this research.
This presentation will demonstrate that, because of structural ageism, policy and service design and delivery are currently inequitable, leaving many older adults who are experiencing abuse without help in a brutal ‘postcode lottery’. Older adults avoid help-seeking because of lack of access to suitable services.
Against this background, I will also show how tailored frontline services are empowering older adults experiencing harm to make choices that are right for them, whether that means leaving unsafe relationships, or re-setting conflictual dynamics to safely maintain their valued relationships.
The presentation will showcase the most recent Relationships Indicators data about how older adults in Australia are experiencing their most important relationships, and demonstrate how collaborative, multi-disciplinary approaches have transformed services for older adults to meet their needs, as defined by them.
Participants will leave the session with improved understanding of how human rights-based relational services for older adults improve individual safety and well-being and support a vibrant, inclusive and equitable society with flourishing intergenerational relationships
Relationships Australia has provided universally accessible relationship services for nearly 80 years, including services to older adults experiencing harm at the hands of family members. We undertake research to inform our understanding of older adults and their relationships. Our clinical practice informs, and is informed by, this research.
This presentation will demonstrate that, because of structural ageism, policy and service design and delivery are currently inequitable, leaving many older adults who are experiencing abuse without help in a brutal ‘postcode lottery’. Older adults avoid help-seeking because of lack of access to suitable services.
Against this background, I will also show how tailored frontline services are empowering older adults experiencing harm to make choices that are right for them, whether that means leaving unsafe relationships, or re-setting conflictual dynamics to safely maintain their valued relationships.
The presentation will showcase the most recent Relationships Indicators data about how older adults in Australia are experiencing their most important relationships, and demonstrate how collaborative, multi-disciplinary approaches have transformed services for older adults to meet their needs, as defined by them.
Participants will leave the session with improved understanding of how human rights-based relational services for older adults improve individual safety and well-being and support a vibrant, inclusive and equitable society with flourishing intergenerational relationships
Biography
Susan Cochrane worked for almost two decades across a variety of legal policy roles in the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department, and then as senior ministerial advisor to the then Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis KC. She advised on diverse policy areas including family law, family violence, child protection, abuse of older adults, legal assistance and administrative law. Since 2018, Susan has worked for Relationships Australia as National Policy Manager, where she advocates for policies, programmes and services to support all Australians to create and maintain respectful relationships.
