General News
9 December, 2020
Little Houses showcase big problem
LITTLE houses are popping up around the South West as part of the Warm Safe Home Project’s 16 Days of Activism campaign.
LITTLE houses are popping up around the South West as part of the Warm Safe Home Project’s 16 Days of Activism campaign.
Community members have helped make hundreds of little houses since the project was launched by South West Carer and Respite Services Network in 2019 as part of the Victorian State Government’s Elder Abuse Prevention Network program.
Dr Becky Nevin Berger, elder abuse prevention project worker – South West Carer and Respite Services Network, said the aim of the project was to start conversations about elder abuse and what can be done to stop it.
“Its core message has stayed simple: everybody has the right to a warm, safe home regardless of their age.” she said.
“Warm Safe Home displays have been put up around the region, including on Warrnambool’s Civic Green and in the Lighthouse Theatre Foyer, in the main street of Lismore, in Macarthur, and in Hamilton.”
“Men’s Sheds in Timboon, Hamilton, Macarthur, and Camperdown have created timber houses that have been decorated by artists at Corangamite Arts, Timboon Scouts, and a primary school, kindergarten and childcare in Macarthur.”
Dr Nevin Berger said hundreds of little paper houses have also been decorated and folded ready for display by social support groups, neighbourhoods houses, primary and secondary students, and community members that connected with the project when it went online.
“The Warm Safe Home project asks people what a warm safe home means to them,”she said.
“As the COVID-19 recovery continues, accessing to affordable and secure housing continues to impact our community. Older relatives often provide accommodation for family members in times of need.
“Families helping one another keeps communities together in hard times. Ensuring that these arrangements are fair, respectful, and transparent ensures that a loved one’s kindness does not get abused.
“An estimated 14 per cent of people experience elder abuse however underreporting is thought to hide the true number.”
Earlier this year Senior’s Rights Victoria released a new report which showed over seven years almost two thirds of people who accessed their call service had experienced psychological abuse or financial abuse.
About 16 per cent of people who accessed Senior’s Rights Victoria confidential elder abuse helpline reported experiencing physical abuse and 11 per cent reported social abuse.
Almost all abuse experienced by people who accessed the service was perpetrated by a family member, with 39 per cent perpetrated by sons and 28 per cent perpetrated by daughters.
The report showed drug, alcohol or gambling issues afflicted a rising number of elder abuse perpetrators.
If you or someone you know is experiencing any form of elder abuse, you can discuss these concerns with a trusted family member, GPor physician.
For further information and for independent advice, contact:
Seniors Rights Victoria – confidential helpline – 1300 368 821 Available from 10.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday; or
Victoria Police Family Violence Unit (03) 5560 1333.
