Advocare is thrilled to announce we have been chosen as the new independent peak body to champion the rights and well-being of more than over 400,000 older people in Western Australia. This move strengthens the advocacy and support network for WA’s ageing population, ensuring older people are supported, connected, and heard.
As the WA Seniors Peak Body, Advocare will continue to leverage and:
- Engage with older people through consultations, events, and other opportunities to identify concerns and promote solutions while providing valuable information;
- Raise awareness of existing services and support needed by older people, linking them to appropriate services and resources; and
- Increase awareness of elder abuse and mistreatment, promote recognition of the signs and direct people to the right support services.
Establishing an independent peak body is a key action of WA’s first-ever seniors strategy, An Age-Friendly WA: State Seniors Strategy 2023-2033 and its accompanying five-year Action Plan, launched last year by the Cook Government.
Comments from Seniors and Ageing Minister, Don Punch:
“I look forward to working with Advocare in this important role to support older people throughout WA, and to achieve the vision and outcomes of the WA Seniors Strategy.
“The seniors peak body will represent and advocate for older people in Western Australia to help ensure they are supported and thriving.
The peak body role closely aligns with Advocare’s existing activities and will serve to enhance our impact in the community. We look forward to expanding on the work we already do as part of this new status in empowering older West Australians.
Advocare would like to acknowledge and thank the Council on the Ageing WA (COTA WA) that established the Vulnerable Seniors Peak Body in 2020. Advocare will continue to work with COTA and all sector leaders to build on the work of the Peak Body.
COTA WA spokesperson:
“We’ve come a long way when it comes to the rights of older Western Australians, but there’s still a long way to go.
COTA WA has been working hard to provide support for older Western Australians and we look forward to continuing to amplify the voices of older Western Australians alongside Advocare in its expanded role as the new Cook Government Seniors Peak Body.”
Advocare looks forward to sharing more news of our future work as the Peak Body through our Newsbites newsletter, so watch this space!