World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is a day to voice opposition to the abuse of older people. During WEAAD, individuals and communities throughout Queensland will come together and show their support by hosting and attending a wide range of activities where people will have the opportunity to learn about elder abuse, its impacts and older people’s human rights.

Australia has an ageing population and this number is predicted to rise to 23 per cent of the population by 2055. Recent research has shown that approximately one in six older Australians reported experiencing elder abuse in a given year.

Perpetrators of elder abuse are often family members, mostly adult children but they can also be friends, neighbours and acquaintances.

COTA Queensland is working collaboratively with other community organisation in developing the Queensland WEAAD and Activity Marketing Toolkit and we encourage you to get involved and share it with your key community stakeholders. The toolkit contains some event and activity ideas, WEAAD marketing and elder abuse resources and support.

The official colour of WEAAD is purple which represents wisdom, dignity, independence and creativity. Join us in shinning a light on elder abuse by wearing purple on the day.

To mark the day members may be interested in attending WEAAD 2022 – It’s all about Respect in the Queen Street Mall 9am – 3pm.

Are you hosting an event or activity? This year COTA Queensland is hosting the WEAAD campaign and online events calendar. You can let people know what’s on in your area by registering them here.

We look forward to your support and together we can stop elder abuse.

Lisa Hodgkinson
Coordinator
Queensland Seniors Month