World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) takes place on 15 June every year. It is an opportunity for communities to come together and stand against the abuse, mistreatment and neglect of older people.
Today, the Victorian Government announces Victoria’s first dedicated primary prevention framework for elder abuse. It supports professionals to plan action that addresses elder abuse at its root, informed by emerging and available evidence.
We also draw attention to the ways older women experience ageism and gender inequality. Learn more about how we can all contribute to change, so all older people are seen and valued in our communities.
New framework for prevention 
Respecting and valuing older people: Victoria’s Primary Prevention of Elder Abuse Framework is a resource for professionals working to prevent elder abuse from happening in the first place.
The framework’s first instalment, the handbook, features:
four key themes for action
principles for prevention
examples of practical actions across society.
The key themes address ageism and gender inequality. Alongside other intersecting forms of discrimination, emerging and available evidence suggests these themes are the underlying drivers of elder abuse.
A future free from elder abuse is one where older people are valued, respected and treated equally. As Victoria’s population ages, creating this future is more critical than ever.
The handbook forms part of the Victorian Government’s prevention of elder abuse commitments in Until every Victorian is safe: Third rolling action plan to end family and sexual violence 2025–27.
Download the framework and learn more on the Preventing elder abuse web page.
Ensuring older women count
The effect of gender inequality builds through younger years and adulthood. It affects older women the most. Experiences of ageism intersect with gender, and other diverse identities or circumstances.
Many older women can feel forgotten or overlooked in efforts to end gendered violence. A lifetime of gender inequity impacts the kind of help available, and the barriers to reporting and support.
We all have a part to play in ensuring older women count in our families and communities, every day of the year.
There are many ways to learn more and get involved this World Elder Abuse Awareness Day:
Take part in Celebrate Ageing’s #TheBiscuitTin program, challenging ageism and sexism one batch of biscuits at a time.
Explore the [un]Silencing of Older Women resources. Learn how gender inequality is experienced by older women and how to address elder abuse with a gender lens.
Check out Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria’s Beyond Age exhibition, where older people share advice to their younger selves.
Centre the voices and lived experience of older women and people in your daily life.
Supporting local primary prevention activities
In June 2026, the Victorian Government is providing additional funding to the Elder Abuse Prevention Networks.
The funding will support networks to deliver local primary prevention activities and raise awareness of elder abuse. Local action can look like delivering activities to mark Ageism Awareness Day or the Victorian Seniors Festival.
More information
Where to get help
Help is available if you are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, elder abuse. Call the free elder abuse helpline on 1300 368 821 from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
If you are a concerned friend or family member, please encourage the older person to call the elder abuse helpline or reach out to a trusted health professional.
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 000.
Learn more
For more information and ways to get help, visit: