Community Safety

The Victoria Police 2009 You are not alone campaign aimed to build trusting relationships between police and senior Victorians.

Some senior Victorians feel as if there is no one to turn to when they are a victim of a crime or when they are placed in a situation where they feel at-risk, threatened or unsafe.

This is particularly true for those who feel disengaged from the wider community and do not actively socialise.

You are not alone  aimed to build trusting relationships between police and older Victorians in order to encourage reporting of elder abuse.
 
Elder abuse is the mistreatment of an older person and is often committed by someone the older person trusts and relies upon. Elder abuse can be financial, emotional or physical including mistreatment and neglect.

Senior Rights Victoria research shows that elder abuse is most often committed by adult children, who may be carers or live with the victim.

There is a strong indication that perpetrators often suffer from mental health, drug, or alcohol-related issues.

Victims of elder abuse are typically reluctant to report this type of crime as they do not want to get their adult children into trouble or because they are dependent on the perpetrator for care or company.

You are not alone raised community awareness of elder abuse and encouraged Victorians to take action for senior Victorians in their community who may be victims of crime.

The You are not alone campaign was launched Friday, 2 October, 2009 in the lead-up to Victorian Seniors Week.

Campaign Material

You are not alone postcards
The postcard is designed to be kept home, in a place where they can refer to it, to assure the reader that the police are there to help when they are a victim of crime.

The postcard also includes personal safety tips and encourages the recipient  to write the telephone number of their local police station on to the postcard. DOWNLOAD POSTCARD

You are not alone posters
The You are not alone poster is a reminder to senior Victorians that police care about their safety and want them to feel safe and comfortable at home and in their neighbourhood.

The poster includes the details for Crime Stoppers and emergency telephone number Triple Zero (000). DOWNLOAD POSTER

Links

http://www.seniorsrights.org.au/
Seniors Rights Victoria is a free, confidential advisory service funded by the Victorian Government to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights, dignity and independence of older Victorians. For assistance call 1300 368 821 between 10am-5pm, Monday to Friday.