The newly added languages – Burmese, Dari, Farsi, Italian, and Somali – expand the reach of these important resources produced in collaboration with Senior Rights Victoria.
Now available in 22 languages, the brochures help seniors from multicultural communities understand what elder abuse is, different forms it can take, and where to seek help.
Graduates of ECCV’s bicultural community educator training program contributed to developing the materials, sharing insights and stories gathered through work in their own communities.
For bilingual educator Golsum Ramezani, in-language resources are essential to educating her community. As coordinator of the North Dandenong Neighbourhood House (NDNH), she has become a trusted leader for Farsi, Dari and Hazaragi speakers who travel across Melbourne to attend her programs.
“Elder abuse can happen to anyone. But in my community, because of shame and cultural sensitivity, people are not willing to share what happens to them in a group setting,” Golsum says. Yet, in a few instances, seniors have talked to her privately about the abuse they were facing at home.
“Initially, I had no idea but since I attended ECCV training, I feel it is very important to make people aware of elder abuse.”
Find out more and download ECCV’s elder abuse brochures here.