Ageing Well Expo 2024

Elder abuse is any act which harms an older person and is carried out by someone they trust such as an adult child, family member, partner, carer or friend. The abuse may be physical, social, financial, psychological or sexual and can include mistreatment and neglect.

The interactive session provided an overview of elder abuse and support and assistance available through Seniors Rights Victoria.

Presented by Gary Ferguson Education Co-ordinator, Senior Rights Victoria.

Gary Ferguson has 25 years of experience in Community Education and Training, delivering programs to diverse groups of adults. Since May 2008, he has been the Education Co-ordinator at Seniors Rights Victoria, responsible for state-wide community
education and professional training in health, community, aged care, and related fields. Gary collaborates with various groups, including Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) populations, Aboriginal communities,
and the older Deaf community.

Seniors Rights Victoria is a free service available to individuals over 60 years of age.

During this session, we explored the available financial options that you can access. We also discuss information regarding unpaid bills, debts, or disputes, as well as provided insights on scams and effective methods to handle them.

The session was driven by attendee questions and provided detail on how to locate free financial counsellors in your local area, along with an overview of what to expect from support services.

Presented by Uniting Kildonan by the highly experienced Financial Counsellor, Anouk Ceppi Thomas. 

Anouk Ceppi Thomas is an experienced Financial Councillor that has worked in this field since 2013. Anouk grew up in the French part of Switzerland where she worked as a youth worker before migrating in Australia more than 20 years ago. Anouk completed her studies at Victoria University focusing on
counselling, and subsequently gained extensive experience as a Family Support Practitioner for numerous years.

This session was all things related to ‘Healthy Eating’ and the key nutrients that should be in your daily food intake. topics covered inncluded:

• the ‘ins and outs’ of fibre
• top tips for tip top bone health AND
• how a dietitian can help you!

Attendees learnt about the connection between nutrition and healthy ageing!

Presentation by Jessica Lamb, Dietitian, DPV Health. 

Jessica Lamb is a dietitian with experience in treating nutrition-related conditions from allergies to zinc deficiencies and everything in between! From working at acute hospitals to now working as a community dietitian at DPV Health, Jessica uses her background in nutrition and psychology to advocate for and empower clients of all ages to successfully reach their individual nutrition goals by providing nutrition knowledge and support. One of the things she loves in her job is talking to people about food and nutrition, and she looks forward to seeing you at her presentation ‘Mastering Healthy Aging, One Bite at a Time’ and at the DPV stall at the expo!

This information session introduced us to the six factors of positive ageing and taught how to experience happiness and satisfaction at any age.

Presented by Bolton Clark, Taryn Ferguson 

Taryn Ferguson is a passionate advocate for personal growth, mindfulness, and holistic well-being. With a background Human Resources, Organisation Development and Coaching, Taryn has a deep curiosity about wellbeing, longevity and the human mind.  She has dedicated her career to empowering individuals to cultivate self-awareness, harness their inner potential, and create positive change in their lives.

In this overview, we explored the practice of mindfulness and energy cultivation as powerful tools for personal growth. We focused on three key aspects: breathwork, cultural self, and environmental awareness.

By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can experience numerous benefits, such as reduced stress, improved focus, and a deeper connection with yourself and the world around you.

Presented by Bolton Clark, Taryn Ferguson

Taryn Ferguson is a passionate advocate for personal growth, mindfulness, and holistic well-being. With a background Human Resources, Organisation Development and Coaching, Taryn has a deep curiosity about wellbeing, longevity and the human mind.  She has dedicated her career to empowering individuals to cultivate self-awareness, harness their inner potential, and create positive change in their lives. 

It's important to plan ahead for health care decisions in case you are unable to make decisions for yourself. 

Planning can involves appointing a trusted decision-maker or talking to them about what is important to you.

This session went through understanding the components of Advance Care Planning and how Advance Care Planning can be useful for you and your family.

Presented by Northern Health by A/Professor Barbara Hayes, Clinical Lead-Advance Care Planning.

A/Prof Barbara Hayes is the Clinical Lead for Advance Care Planning at Northern Health.  She is a Palliative Care doctor but no longer works clinically.  Barbara has a teaching and research interest in ethics and law related to medical decision-making, end-of-life decision-making and decisions about cardiopulmonary resuscitation.  She is also interested in how culture and faith influence decision-making.