A Border advocate is part of a new national campaign to reduce the exploitation of older people.
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Maria Berry, of Wodonga, shared her experiences at last week's launch of Stop Elder Financial Abuse, an initiative of Australian Banking Association and Bauer Media.
"I'm really putting my voice out there as much as I can for older people," she said.
"I know it's not the answer for everything regarding elder abuse, but it is a great starting point.
"To see these big organisations stepping up and asking the government for action and to do something is fantastic."
Launched in Sydney, Stop Elder Financial Abuse calls on governments across Australia to establish power of attorney laws that are the same across the country, a national power of attorney register to check if these documents are legitimate and current and somewhere to report abuse in each state that can investigate and act.
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Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh called the growing problem of elder financial abuse "an uncomfortable truth that every Australian should be aware of".
"Bank staff have told me stories of attempting to intervene in situations where they see money drained out of the accounts of pensioners, often for items they are not using such as holidays or expensive jewellery, but the victim is unwilling or unable to report what is really happening," she said.
Mrs Berry said telling her family's story proved quite traumatic at first, but over time she realised this made it easier for others to speak up.
"It's almost like it made it OK to say look, it's happening to me," she said.
"It took the shame away and the embarrassment from some of the conversation and I really found that it helped other people open up."
Elder abuse in money matters could start gradually, perhaps through carers finding themselves in financial stress and using the older person's money as their own.
"The big one is simply inheritance impatience," Mrs Berry said.
"Children don't want to wait for the inheritance and think that they're automatically entitled to it but not necessarily realising that perhaps their ageing parents are going to need money for care and support.
"We need to be looking after older people in our community, making sure that they are involved and they're visible as a deterrent and a protection for them.
"It's everyone in Australia realising that this is just not OK."
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A petition to change the laws can be found at ausbanking.org.au/elderabuse while anyone wanting to share their story of elder financial abuse confidentially can email mystory@bauer-media.com.au.