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About this guide
This publication presents Part 2 of the Intersectionality in Elder Abuse Reference Guide, building on Part 1, which considered the impact of disability, gender, linguistic and cultural diversity, and LGBTQIA+ identities on people’s exposure to ageism, discrimination, and barriers to elder abuse support. In this part, the guide pays specific focus to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, geography, accessibility and communication needs, social connectedness, and housing insecurity. We also include discussions on older people with additional care needs, carers, and people with disability or compromised decision-making ability.
The guide highlights that elder abuse is influenced by system inequalities and emphasises that older people are not a homogenous group; with experiences shaped by the intersections of ageism, discrimination and disadvantage amongst other factors.
In combination, the Intersectionality in Elder Abuse Reference Guides are designed to support policymakers, practitioners, and organisations in adopting an intersectional lens when developing and delivering elder abuse prevention and response. It does this by identifying the role system marginalisation plays in the prevalence, prevention, response and recovery to and from abuse.
We acknowledge the guide cannot fully capture the diversity or complexity of lived experiences of older people in Victoria, nor can it fully apply across other cultural or policy contexts. The guide is therefore intended as a starting point for further discussion and engagement.
About intersectionality
COTA Victoria and Seniors Rights Victoria recognise the leadership of the broader social services sector, especially organisations in family violence prevention and response. Their work in developing and applying intersectional theory provides a strong foundation for this guide. While intersectionality has its roots in feminism and gender equality, this guide applies its principles to ageism, family violence, and the experiences of older people.
Intersectionality helps us understand why some people face barriers in accessing services and supports, and why others are often overlooked. An intersectional approach recognises that disadvantage can result from multiple factors such as race, gender, age, disability, or social class interacting with one another, as well as from systemic forms of oppression like racism, sexism, ageism, and ableism.
These overlapping factors can create unique barriers and experiences of discrimination that are not always visible when considering a single factor in isolation. Applying an intersectional approach involves actively examining systems and practices, reflecting on unconscious biases, consulting with affected communities, and committing to ongoing service improvement and organisational accountability.
In the context of elder abuse, taking an intersectional approach is essential for understanding risk and for designing prevention, response, and recovery strategies that are fair, inclusive, and effective for all older people.
Part 1 of the Intersectionality Reference Guide on Elder Abuse explored how disability, age, gender, sexuality, and cultural diversity influence the drivers of elder abuse and the effectiveness of prevention initiatives. Building on those insights, Part 2 focuses on the influence of Indigeneity, geographical location, social connectedness, communication needs, and housing in the context of elder abuse.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we work and pay our respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.
This document was produced by the Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria with the support of the Victorian Government.
The Intersectionality Reference Guide in Elder Abuse series was developed by COTA Victoria and SRV, with the valuable experience and expertise of several consulted organisations. They include:
- Office of the Public Advocate (OPA)
- Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS)
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)
- Ageing with Grace (AwG)
- Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG)
- Carers Victoria
- Safe and Equal (S+E)
- Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV)
- Switchboard