Retiring Commissioner helped change attitudes towards seniors
Kay Patterson has fought discrimination in the workplace and raised awareness about elder abuse.
National Seniors Australia acknowledges the remarkable achievements of the Honourable Dr Kay Patterson AO, who is finishing her term as Age Discrimination Commissioner.
Chief Advocate Ian Henschke was among those to pay tribute to Dr Patterson, who spent seven years with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC).
“It was wonderful to attend a farewell event for Dr Patterson recently and thank her on behalf of all older people for the exemplary service she has given,” Mr Henschke said.
“In her farewell speech she reflected on her seven years and mentioned the ongoing struggle to change attitudes and continue the fight against ageism and elder abuse.
“She specifically highlighted the importance of work National Seniors was doing in our Let Pensioners Work campaign.”
Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN) chief Craig Gear said Dr Patterson’s work has helped to shine a bright light on the depth of the issue of ageism nationwide.
“Dr Patterson worked around championing the establishment of Elder Abuse Action Australia,” Mr Gear said.
“She also supported OPAN with key initiatives such as our Ready To Listen project, which aimed at preventing sexual assault of older people in residential aged care.”
Dr Patterson was educated in Sydney and the United States, where she studied gerontology, the scientific study of old age. On her return to Australia, she helped develop the first Victorian post-graduate diploma in the field.
She was elected to the Senate in 1987 and served in Cabinet in the Health and Social Security portfolios.
She has been a Director and Vice President of Interplast Australia and New Zealand, a leader and Council and Executive Member of Girl Guides Victoria and was a member of Monash University Council for 20 years. She was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2016.
During her term as Commissioner, Dr Patterson increased community awareness of elder abuse, and advocated for implementation of recommendations from the Australian Law Reform Commission’s 2017 report, Elder Abuse: A National Legal Response.
She also helped raise awareness of the National Elder Abuse phone line (1800 353 374).
Dr Patterson advocated for older women at risk of homelessness, releasing a paper on this issue in 2019, and campaigned against age discrimination in the workplace, launching the Older Workers Resource Hub in 2021 and supporting National Seniors’ work in this area.
During her term, Dr Patterson has challenged ageist beliefs and promoted positive intergenerational relationships through her reports What’s Age Got To Do With It? and Talking About My Generation.
As Commissioner, Dr Patterson led calls for the overhaul of Enduring Power of Attorney laws and the development of a National Register.
In a recent interview describing this issue as “unfinished business”, Dr Patterson said it was “a disgrace” that action had not been taken to safeguard people from abuse.
