It will also resonate with professionals in aged care, health, social policy, and community engagement who want to harness creative, community-driven approaches to change.
This webinar will explore the main objectives of the Beyond Age Project, how it came about, the recruitment of older people to be a part of the Project through a workshop and photo shoot, the exhibition, and plans for expanding the Project.
Join Gary Ferguson, Education Coordinator, Seniors Rights Victoria, who’ll lead a discussion about the Beyond Age Project, which was launched at the 2025 WEAAD Morning Tea hosted by Seniors Rights Victoria and Council on the Ageing Victoria.
Gary will be joined by Dr. Mary-Faeth Chenery who will reflect on her involvement in the first workshop and discuss her learnings and insights.
Mary-Faeth will talk about ways in which ageism and social issues can be challenged individually through her community roles.
The webinar will explore:
Primary prevention in addressing ageism and elder abuse
Planning and delivering the Project
Key stakeholders and participants
Placing the Project in the community to expand its reach
Our presenters will discuss:
The history, aims, and objectives of the Project
Involvement of those who are most impacted by ageism
Delivery of the workshop and photo shoot
The feedback from participants and ways in which the Project has sustainability in the wider community
Some of the challenges of this type of project to ensure it has a firm foundation within a framework to meet its primary prevention aims
A bit about our presenters
Gary Ferguson - Education Coordinator, Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) at Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria
Gary has worked with the service since its establishment in 2008. Seniors Rights Victoria is the key statewide Community Legal Service in Victoria addressing and responding to elder abuse.
Gary has a health promotion background and has worked at the Alfred Hospital and Royal District Nursing Service in Melbourne.
Prior to this, he was the Statewide HIV Education Manager at the Queensland AIDS Council. He has extensive experience in prevention, education and training, and the delivery of these to diverse populations.
In his role as Education Coordinator at Seniors Rights Victoria he delivers the community and professional education programs and collaborates with the Elder Abuse Project at the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV), local government, seniors’ groups, and other organisations.
He has delivered culturally relevant education to Aboriginal organisations in Warrnambool and Dandenong. Gary is committed to the delivery of elder abuse prevention that addresses its main drivers in ways which are relevant and applicable for different populations.
Each year, Gary coordinates the activities and events for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day across Victoria.
In 2025, the Victorian Minister for Ageing, Honorable Ingrid Stitt, launched the Beyond Age Project at the 2025 WEAAD event at the Melbourne Town Hall. Over the next year SRV/COTA will engage with seniors throughout the State to be active participants in the Project through workshops and photography that challenge ageism, the main driver of elder abuse.
Dr Mary-Faeth Chenery - President of Older Women in Cohousing Inc. (WINC)
WINC is a 31-home cohousing community for older women being built in Castlemaine, Victoria.
It includes older women of all asset levels, with homes for women eligible for social housing, some women with too many assets for social housing and too few assets to purchase a home, and the remaining homes for women who can afford to purchase them.
Mary-Faeth is also the president of Safe Place Homes Inc. in Daylesford and region, where she now lives
In 2025, she was inducted into the Shire of Hepburn Women’s Honour Roll for being an advocate for peace and housing security. As an inductee she was recognised for representing Australia in international peace initiatives and working to elevate the role of women in peace negotiations.
Additionally, Mary-Faeth’s leadership in Safe Place Homes has provided crucial support for vulnerable populations in Hepburn Shire.
Mary-Faeth is a member of Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria and participated in the first Beyond Age Workshop and Photo Shoot in March 2025, which considered Ageing and Ageism and its impact on older people and elder abuse.
In this webinar she’ll be talking about her participation in the workshop and some of her personal insights on ageing.
Her educational and work background are in psychology, organisation development, and outdoor education.
Helen Wallace - Moderator
Helen will be filling in for EAAA Executive Officer, Bev Lange, as Moderator for this session.
Helen is an EAAA Board member and has 40 years’ experience working in human services delivery, social policy and planning, and community development in large and small government and non-government entities.
Her current role at Caxton Legal Centre (since 2015) includes direct service delivery to older Australians experiencing abuse using a lawyer–social worker model where human rights, protection, and autonomy are key considerations.
Helen is a collaborator across sectors for raising awareness of elder abuse and law and policy reform to prevent abuse and improve Australian responses to it.