This year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) campaign took us from leafy vineyards to island shores. We kicked things off among the vines in Mt Barker, where the first of more than 20 WEAAD-themed events began. Find out how we marked this vital awareness-raising annual campaign.
Throughout June, Advocare team members travelled across Western Australia, delivering more than 20 community sessions focused on raising awareness, recognising the signs of elder abuse, and encouraging people to speak up. We were proud to support events in libraries, community centres, aged care homes, and town halls, each visit reinforcing the message that the rights of older people must be respected and protected.
A highlight of this year’s campaign came from further afield, when Advocare’s Claire Tassone visited Christmas Island. Claire took part in local information sessions and captured some delightful, unexpected moments. We’ve included one of Claire’s more creative photos featuring the island’s famous red crabs helping to promote the WEAAD message (see below)!
Back in Perth, our ‘Elephant in the Room: addressing elder abuse’ event brought the issue into the open for people who were either volunteers or worked regularly with older West Australians in their workplace. Thanks again to Bankwest’s Rob Cory for emceeing this event and for encouraging these vital conversations to continue beyond the day’s end. (Feature photo L-R: CEO Bev Jowle, Shawnee Van Poeteren, David Thompson and Bankwest’s Rob Cory).
WEAAD 2025 reminded us just how many people care. Through conversations, connection and community action, we’re continuing to create safer spaces for older people—where their voices are heard, and their rights upheld.
