Radio COTA #97:Legal Support for Seniors

Radio COTA

Our Seniors represent some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Unfortunately financial abuse of Seniors is a very real and major problem and, sadly, it often happens at the hands of close friends or family. The good news is that help IS available ! Radio COTA Podcast # 97 focuses on the Seniors Legal Advice and Support Service, an initiative of the Queensland State Government, which provides free legal advice, information and social work services for people over 60, (or over 50 for Indigenous Australians). The Seniors Legal and Support Service is an initiative of the Queensland Government covering such things as legal information and advice, social work services, short-term counselling, advocacy on the clients’ behalf, a referral to other legal consumer and support services and representation in court or before tribunals in some circumstances. The service can also help clients to obtain domestic violence protection orders, develop safety plans and/or relocation to a place of safety, appoint or revoke a power of attorney, and they can provide protective strategies to manage your assets and prevent or stop financial abuse. They can also offer advocacy and negotiation on your behalf if you are a resident of a retirement village experiencing unfair contract terms and conditions. There are currently five Seniors Legal and Support Services around the State of Queensland, and we share with you who they are and how to find them. Additionally, we speak with two representatives from a couple of those centres, Cybele Koning & Symone D’Avis, to find out how the Centres work and what services they can provide to Senior Queenslanders in need. This is such an important issue, and this information helps to bring us all onto the same page as we strive together to stamp out elder abuse in our communities. So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you .. Please keep sending us your feedback and suggestions, we love hearing from you ... Call us on the Radio COTA Feedback Line … Phone: [phone] ... or Email us at ... [e-mail]