World Elder Abuse Day events in Darwin, Alice and Tennant Creek

11 May 2026

To raise awareness of and tackle elder abuse, COTA NT is partnering with Darwin Community Legal Services to host events in Darwin, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.

More details will be available but the dates to save are:

Darwin – 15 June (keynote: Anne Burgess AM)
Alice Springs – 17 June (keynote: Dr Kay Patterson AO)
Tennant Creek – 18 June (keynote: Dr Kay Patterson AO)

COTA organised the attendance of key-note speakers, Anne Burgess AM, Chair of the Aged Care Council of Elders and the Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO, former Age Discrimination Commissioner and Australian Senator. They will be joined by Sue Shearer, CEO of COTA NT.

Anne Burgess AM

Anne has more than 40 years experience leading areas of government focussed on social justice. As a previous Director of Mental Health, Director Office for Women and Acting Commissioner for Equal Opportunity she has skills in policy development, change management, strategic planning and a particular interest in community engagement. Anne currently holds a number of Board positions and roles at state and federal levels, including in the non-government sector.

Dr Kay Patterson

Dr Kay Patterson is the former Australian Age Discrimination Commissioner. She began her five-year appointment on 29th July, 2016. Her strong interest in issues affecting older people has been demonstrated throughout her professional career. After gaining a BA (Hons) at the University of Sydney and a PhD in Psychology and Dip Ed at Monash University, Dr Patterson taught allied health science for 11 years. She went on to study gerontology at two universities in the USA, and used the knowledge gained during those visits to co-develop the first Victorian post-graduate diploma in gerontology and to introduce gerontology into undergraduate behavioural science courses. Following her election to the Australian Senate in 1987, she served on a number of Senate committees and held various shadow portfolios. In 1988 she was appointed a Parliamentary Secretary, and in 2001 was appointed to Cabinet and served in the Health and Social Security portfolios. During her time in the Senate one of her major areas of interest were issues affecting older Australians. She retired from Cabinet in 2006 and from the Senate in 2008. She has served on a number of not-for-profit Boards and voluntary positions, recently as a member of the Council of Elders (21-23). She is currently an Honorary Associate at Monash University, a Director of Every Age Counts, Patron of the Australian Institute for Intergenerational Practice, Patron of Project Grace and an Ambassador for the Australian Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Monash University.