Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Minister Senator Richard Colbeck has announced the Federal Government is partnering with the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) for an online learning package aimed at helping aged care providers and health professionals prevent, identify, and respond to sexual abuse.
The Government has given a $168,000 grant to OPAN, who is working with Dr Catherine Barrett, of the OPAL Institute (Older People And SexuaLity), to develop Abuse of the older person: eLearning program for health professionals.
“Assaults on the elderly - in any form - are deplorable,” Minister Colbeck said.
OPAN’s online program, which will consist of 33 online learning modules, will also be aimed at health and allied health workers, such as GPs and optometrists, who may be the only people some senior Australians confide in if they are assaulted.
Dr Barrett will also launch a #ReadyToListen social media campaign to encourage senior Australians and their families to report sexual assault.
