Celebrating the Wisdom and Resilience of Older Women

In November 2020, our friends at the Elder Abuse Prevention Networks in the North and West region of Metropolitan Melbourne along with Merri Health hosted the Virtual Women’s Café – Celebrating the Wisdom and Resilience of Older Women.

The Elder Abuse Prevention Networks are part of the integrated model of care to strengthen elder abuse responses and support within Victorian health services, and consists of agencies and community organisations who meet regularly to work on key objectives such as developing interagency protocols and raising awareness of elder abuse.  

The Virtual Women’s Cafe webinar spoke on the topics of Ageism, meaning and purpose in later life, grief and loss in a time of pandemic and mental health through story. The webinar featured our very own Dr Marlene Krasovitsky (Director of the EveryAGE COUnts campaign), Meaningful Ageing Australia CEO Ilsa Hampton, Merri Carer Services Counselling Team Leader Jacqueline Taylor, 'The Story Costumer' Caroline Sarah and Helen Rushford from Melbourne Health. The webinar received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees.

“It was fantastic to hear from so many articulate and knowledgeable women on such an important topic.  I work with seniors so would like to hope that I am aware of ageism in my day to day dealings but a refresher is always useful.  The points around the pandemic reporting were food for thought for me.”

The webinar has been made into a 4 part series with each video focusing on a different topic. The first video – Ageism in time of pandemic - features Every Age Counts Director Dr Marlene Krasovitsky and can be accessed below.

The Elder Abuse Prevention Networks are planning further webinars following the themes of Ageing Gracefully, Ageism, Elder Abuse and Neglect in 2021.

For more information about the Elder Abuse Prevention Networks North and West Metro Melbourne, please contact Grace Webster at [email protected].