Program
Event Overview
Walk the Talk is a conference that invites dialogue, debate and conversation about ending the abuse of older people wherever it occurs – in aged care residential settings, at home or in the systems and processes that surround us. The issues, ideas and challenges raised during Walk the Talk will encourage all delegates to continue their work, to drive change and to be voices for action.
Walk the Talk will be held across four different rooms within the Wrest Point Convention Centre. The Plenary Room will be the epicentre of the conference and our keynote and invited speakers are set to provoke, entertain and inform our delegates.
Delegates will be welcomed to country by Aunty Cheryl Mundy, a Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder.
Conference MC
Philippa McDonald will be our MC for the Plenary Room.
Philippa is a 30-year veteran of ABC News and one of the most respected and trusted faces in Australian journalism. She is a storyteller with a profound interest in the human experience, borne out of decades of covering stories from triumphs to tragedies. Philippa has been the recipient of multiple awards including a Walkley award for the ABC’s coverage of a major news event for the bushfires (2019 / 2020) and the United Nations Media Peace Prize for TV Current Affairs covering the plight of Myanmar’s refugees.
In 2021 she facilitated two successful webinars on Elder Abuse and is honoured to be invited back to lend her voice to end elder abuse at our national conference.
Speaker Highlights
Nicki Hutley
Nicki is a highly experienced economist, with broad-based expertise in both macroeconomics and microeconomic policy. She is an economic advisor with Social Outcomes, developing and evaluating social impact programs. Nicki will be speaking to the economic cost of elder abuse.
After many years in the corporate world, including most recently as a partner with Deloitte Access Economics, Nicki is now an independent economist and keynote speaker. She is an economic adviser with Social Outcomes, developing and evaluating social impact programs, and a Councillor with the Climate Council.
Natasha Short
Natasha was born and raised in the East Kimberley as a descendant of the Jaru people, and now lives on Miriwoong Gajerrong country in Kununurra. She has been passionate about positive social changes and righting injustices and founded the Kimberly Birds on the basis of creating social change.
Kimberley Birds was commissioned by the Kimberly Community Legal Services to research financial abuse of Aboriginal Elders. No More Humbug!!! Reducing Aboriginal Financial Elder Abuse in the Kimberley was released in December 2020 and will be the subject of Natasha’s keynote address.
More keynote speakers to be announced
Our keynote speakers will be joined over the two days by esteemed and honoured guests including:
The Hon Dr Kay Patterson
Anna Bligh
Chief Executive Officer, Australian Banking Association
Ian Yates AM
Chief Executive Officer, COTA Australia
Dr John Chesterman
Public Advocate, Office of the Public Advocate (QLD)
Robert Fitzgerald AM
Dr Mala Kapur Shakardass
Asia Representative, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
Professor Briony Dow
Director, National Ageing Research Institute
Dr Catherine Barrett
Director, Celebrate Ageing
Mary Patetsos
Dr Marlene Krasovitsky
Campaign Director, Every Age Counts
Peta Cook
Senior Lecturer, Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania
George Megalogenis
Author & Journalist
Walk The Talk Program
Across the plenary and three breakout rooms within the Wrest Point Convention Centre more than 50 abstracts are programmed with presentations and panel discussions that will explore our themes:
- Walking the Talk, Elder abuse policy, regulation and law
- Naming and framing elder abuse
- Seeing and Hearing each other’s voice: Elder Abuse from diverse perspectives
- Stepping Up Together: What’s working locally, nationally and globally
- Systemic abuse of older Australians
The following program is subject to change without notice.
Walking the Talk Together: Sector-led Strategies for Joint Action
16 February 2022, Hobart
Day 3 of Walk the Talk is a thinktank that will progress the 7th National Elder Abuse Conference’s ‘Call to Action‘.
‘Walking the Talk Together’ will be a one-day thinktank of invited decision makers from approximately 35 key and influential organisations within the sector. It will be hosted by Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA) and facilitated by Les Stahl.
The aim of the thinktank is to progress the 7Th National Elder Abuse Conference’s ‘Call to Action’ by developing a short Action Plan that all organisations attending the thinktank will sign up to support. After the thinktank, other organisations within the sector not attending may also choose to ‘sign up’ their support to the Action Plan. EAAA will circulate the Action Plan to participants in the conference and other stakeholders.
Be part of the thinking and ideas that will help shape the day, the ‘Call to Action’ and the next National Plan by participating in this survey.
‘Walking the Talk Together’ is occurring at a critical time. It is essential that organisations across the community sector can sign on to an Action Plan that augments successful National Plan programs and provides a clear vision to the Commonwealth and state and territory governments.
Thank You
Conferences just don't happen. They require people with dedication, deep knowledge, and a desire to engage peers and challenge ideas.
EAAA and COTA Tasmania are very fortunate to have such contributors to the development of Walk the Talk, and we'd like to thank and acknowledge them for bringing their expertise to the planning of this important event.would like to acknowledge and thank the dedicated members of the Conference Organising and Program Committees.
Organising Committee: Sue Leitch, Dr Lyn McGaurr, Russell Westacott, Bev Lange, Katy Roy
Program Committee: Sue Leitch, Dr Lyn McGaurr, Russell Westacott, Dr Peta Cook, Professor Briony Dow, Sue McGrath, Dr Rae Kaspiew, Mary Patetsos, Bev Lange, Katy Roy
General Enquiries:
P: 1800 960 026
Delegate Services:
Nectar Creative Communications
P: 1300 878 815
E: enquiriesneac2022@nectarcc.com.au