You Decide Who Decides (WA) – Compass Q&A

You Decide Who Decides is a series of videos that covers each Australian state and territory and explains important things to think about before making an enduring power for financial decisions.

Financial decisions, big or small, are important for everyone’s wellbeing and security at any time in life, but they are vital as people age.

If you lose the ability to manage your own financial affairs, how will they be handled?

Who will decide to pay your bills or choose how your care will be funded?

Making an Enduring Power of Attorney is an important thing to get right, because it is the document that will outline how you want decisions made about your financial affairs if you can’t make them yourself.

Compass was joined Shawnee Van Poeteren, Advocare's Program Manager – Advocacy.

With more than 30 years of experience in managing and coordinating aged care, Aboriginal health, and community and allied health services, Shawnee brings deep expertise and leadership to the aged care sector.

Her extensive knowledge spans key issues and reforms within aged care with a particular focus on elder abuse prevention and aged care advocacy.

Shawnee currently oversees the operation of the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP) and the WA Elder Abuse Helpline.

She also represents Advocare on the national Older Persons Advocacy Network’s Advocacy, Operations and Practice Advisory Group, and contributes her expertise as a member of the Compass Content Committee for Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA).

Shawnee has served on numerous advisory bodies while at Advocare, including as an independent customer representative on the Juniper Quality Advisory Care Body and as a member of the Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre Advisory Group, which is focused on supporting older people at risk of harm.

She has also participated in key consultations such as the Review of Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Offending and WA’s First Sexual Violence Prevention Response Strategy.

As an education specialist, Shawnee is dedicated to building community awareness around human rights, aged care rights, and elder abuse. She played a pivotal role in the development and delivery of the #ReadyToListen Project, equipping residential aged care providers in WA with the knowledge and tools to better respond to and prevent the sexual assault of older people in their care.

Driven by a passion for justice and equity, Shawnee works to champion the rights of older people.

Her mission is to ensure every vulnerable, marginalised, or silenced person is seen, heard, respected, and supported.