Stand Up, Speak Out: A conversation on courage, rights and reform
21 May 2025
Stand Up, Speak Out: A conversation on courage, rights and reform webinar with three of Australia’s most respected voices in advocacy and human rights – Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM, The Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO and Russell Westacott.
Across their distinguished careers, each has stood up for those whose voices are often unheard, championing rights, calling for reform and driving social change. In this hour-long conversation, they’ll reflect on what it takes to lead with courage, pivotal moments that shaped their journeys, and how we can all help to create safer, fairer communities for older people.
Robert Fitzgerald AM, Age Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
Robert Fitzgerald AM was appointed as Age Discrimination Commissioner with the Australian Human Rights Commission in April 2024. Mr Fitzgerald is a highly respected lawyer, human rights and social justice advocate, and a leading figure in public and social policy areas. He has extensive experience in promoting child and adult safeguarding responses to abuse. He was the inaugural NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner since 2019 having served as a Commissioner on the Royal Commission into the Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. He was previously an Australian Productivity Commissioner, NSW Community and Disability Services Commissioner, and Deputy Ombudsman. He was the inaugural Chair of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission Advisory Board having served on NGO boards for over 40 years.
The Hon. Dr Kay Patterson AO, Former Age Discrimination Commissioner and EAAA Patron
Prior to entering Parliament in 1987 she received a BA (Hons) from University of Sydney and a Dip Ed and PhD from Monash University. She taught allied health students at Lincoln Institute and introduced gerontology into the undergraduate programs and co-developed the first Diploma in Gerontology in Victoria. She was elected to the Senate in 1987. In 2001 she was appointed to Cabinet as Minister for Health and Ageing and in 2003 as Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister assisting the Prime Minister on Women’s Issues. Dr Patterson was appointed the Aged Discrimination Commissioner in 2016. As Commissioner she focussed on counteracting ageism, age discrimination in the workplace, elder abuse and older women at risk of homelessness.
She has served on several not-for-profit boards and on Monash University Council. She is a board member of Every Age Counts and Patron of the Australian Institute for Intergenerational Practice. She was awarded an AO in 2016 and received an honorary doctorate from Monash University in 2018 and the University of Wollongong in 2024.
Russell Westacott, Aged Care Council of Elders
Russell is a human rights advocate with 40 years’ experience working with vulnerable and marginalised individuals and communities. He was appointed to the Aged Care Council of Elders in January 2025. As Chief Executive Officer of Seniors Rights Service for a decade from 2011, Russell was instrumental in growing the organisation’s reach and was active in developing the Older Person’s Advocacy Network. He contributed to the development of an international convention for the rights of older people and participated in the United Nations Open-ended Working Group on Ageing.
Russell actively advocated for aged care policy change and was one of the founding members of the peak cross-sector body, Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA). has held executive and senior leadership roles across the not-for-profit, mutual and corporate sectors. He is a board member of Family & Relationship Services Australia (FRSA). He was instrumental in the development of the social support model of response to Elder Abuse in Victoria. He has a passion for raising ageism awareness and respecting the right of all people to self-determination.
You register for this session here. The session will be recorded.
Note the NT start time will be 1.30pm.
Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA)
This webinar is organised by Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA) peak cross-sector body of which COTA is a member. If you wish to become a Member and support their work, visit the EAAA website. EAAA membership is open to individuals and organisations who want to contribute to reducing the distress and harm caused by elder abuse.