Barwon Community Legal Service

09/10/2026

Be part of a society where everyone is respected, valued and included at every age.

Ageism in the workplace can often go unnoticed, yet it affects people of all ages and can impact wellbeing, confidence and opportunity.

This Ageism Awareness Day, Friday 9 October, help change the conversation.

We are proud to join our Elder Abuse Prevention Network colleagues in this important call to action and encourage local organisations, businesses and services to explore the guide and implement its practical insights to help create more age inclusive workplaces in the Barwon region.

Learn how to recognise ageism, respond constructively, and create more inclusive workplaces for everyone.

📱 Scan the QR code to download the Guide for Addressing Ageism in the Workplace or visit www.eapn.org.au/addressing-ageism-guide.

Thanks to Southern Melbourne Elder Abuse Prevention Network (SMEAPN) and Better Place Australia for taking the lead in this important work.

Ageing: Challenge your thinking

07/10/2026

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱 & 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!

We're bringing together almost 40 local organisations, community groups and service providers for a free day of connection, information and inspiration. The Expo celebrates the contributions of older people while promoting positive ageing, dementia awareness, wellbeing and social inclusion.

Hear from local expert speakers, discover services and supports available in our region, learn practical tips for healthy ageing, and connect with others in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Date: Friday 23 October 2026
Venue: City of Geelong Bowls Club
Time: 10:30am to 2:30pm
Free!

Want to learn more about the Expo and why it matters?

Read our media release here: www.barwoncommunitylegal.org.au/expo-2026/

Register for the Expo: https://www.trybooking.com/DLYGM

06/10/2026

🍃 Connecting with locals at the SpringDale Seniors Day

On Monday 5 October, we had the pleasure of attending SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre's Seniors Day, where we delivered our 𝗢𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿, 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗿, 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 formation session.

It was wonderful to meet so many community members who were keen to learn more about their rights and the support available to help them age well, stay informed, and remain in control of important life decisions.

Our stall was busy throughout the day, with many people stopping by to chat about our free legal services and pick up information on topics including:

✅ Wills and life planning
✅ Enduring Power of Attorney
✅ scams and fraud prevention
✅ protecting independence and decision-making rights.

Congratulations and thank you to Anne and the SpringDale Neighbourhood Centre Inc team for hosting such a valuable community event. Bringing local support organisations and services together under one roof makes it easier for older community members to access information, build connections, and discover the support available to help them live well and independently.

Thank you to everyone who attended the session, visited our stall, and shared their questions and experiences with us. We are proud to support older people across our community with free legal information, advice, and assistance.

If you or someone you know would like help with a legal issue, please get in touch with Barwon Community Legal Service to learn more about how we can help. You can contact us via www.barwoncommunitylegal.org.au

06/10/2026

Congratulations to Bellarine Community Health and the Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe Mental Health and Wellbeing Local Network on the opening of this important new outreach service in Portarlington.

Improving access to mental health support close to home will make a real difference for people seeking help, particularly in regional and coastal communities. It's fantastic to see organisations working together to ensure Bellarine residents can access free, local support when they need it most.

Wishing everyone involved every success as this valuable service begins supporting the community.

B*H is thrilled to partner with the Greater Geelong-Queenscliffe Mental Health and Wellbeing Local Network to establish a new outreach service to support mental health care on the Bellarine.
The official opening at our B*H Portarlington site this week was marked with a smoking ceremony and ribbon cutting by Alison Marchant - Member for Bellarine
This outreach site builds on the important mental health services we already provide in the community via our child, youth, headspace and adult mental health supports, and will ensure people on the Bellarine receive access to greater mental health care close to where they live.
The GGQ Mental Health and Wellbeing Local provides free services to residents without the need for a mental health care plan or Medicare card.

03/10/2026

Barwon Community Legal Services launches advocacy campaign urging photo ID safeguards for older Victorians surrendering licences.

02/10/2026

We're calling on the Victorian Government to ensure that no older Victorian loses their only recognised photo identification when surrendering their driver’s licence for medical reasons.

Here's our CEO, Ben Rogers, speaking with 's Prue Bentley.

Learn more through our full media release: https://cotavic.org.au/news/media-release/give-up-your-licence-not-your-identity-government-urged-to-protect-older-victorians-from-losing-photo-id-when-they-stop-driving/

02/10/2026

Voting in the Victorian Election 2026: Support is Available!

The Victorian State Election is on Saturday 28 November 2026, and there are voting options available to help people facing difficult circumstances have their say.

✅ 𝗡𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?
You may be able to enrol using a No Fixed Address enrolment option. This allows people who are homeless or itinerant to enrol at an address they are not currently living at. If you enrol this way, you will not be fined for not voting and will not receive fines for previous elections.

✅ 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆?
You may be eligible to enrol as a Silent Elector, which means your address will not appear on future publicly available electoral rolls. A statutory declaration is required, explaining why having your address publicly available would place you or your family at risk.

✅ 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀?
The Victorian Electoral Commission will provide mobile voting services between 17 and 27 November, visiting aged care facilities, nursing homes, health services, Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations, homelessness services and prisons. This makes it easier for people to vote where they live or receive support.

✅ 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲?
Early voting, postal voting, telephone-assisted voting and other accessible voting options are also available.

For more information, contact the Victorian Electoral Commission or visit vec.vic.gov.au. Every Victorian deserves the opportunity to have their voice heard.

01/10/2026

We are joining with our community partners and stakeholders advocating to the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Paul Hamer, and the Minister for Seniors, Nick Staikos, seeking action on this issue.

Join us in calling for change. Your voice can help make a difference. You can read about the campaign and how you can support it here - www.barwoncommunitylegal.org.au/photoid-campaign/

Barwon Community Legal Service, COTA Victoria & Seniors Rights Victoria are calling on the Victorian Government to ensure that no older Victorian loses their only recognised photo identification when surrendering their driver’s licence for medical reasons.

"For many people, giving up driving is already one of the hardest transitions of later life. Under the current system, it can also mean losing your only form of government-issued photo ID,” said our CEO, Ben Rogers. “Many older Victorians don’t realise that surrendering their licence cancels their primary form of identification until it’s too late."

Read our full media release here: https://cotavic.org.au/news/media-release/give-up-your-licence-not-your-identity-government-urged-to-protect-older-victorians-from-losing-photo-id-when-they-stop-driving/

30/09/2026

This year, the International Day of Older Persons is being marked with the theme "The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives" and the global campaign.
The campaign challenges us to rethink the age-based assumptions built into everyday systems, services and decision-making.

Too often, age can become a barrier to opportunity, participation and choice.

But older people are:

✅ Old enough to make their own decisions
✅ Old enough to learn new skills
✅ Old enough to contribute to their communities
✅ Old enough to pursue new goals and aspirations
✅ Old enough to have their rights, dignity and autonomy respected.

As our population ages, reating age-friendly communities means moving beyond stereotypes and ensuring older people remain visible, valued and included in all aspects of community life.

This International Day of Older Persons, we invite you to finish the sentence:

I'm __________.

Share your response in the comments and help challenge ageism wherever it appears.
Together, we can build communities where people of all ages can thrive.

30/09/2026

Thanks for joining with us to advocate for this important reform to help people keep their photo ID.

Our CEO, Ben Rogers, will appear on ABC Statewide Drive at 4.05pm today to discuss photo identification safeguarding for older Victorians. You can tune in to the program here: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/live/melbourne

Together with Barwon Community Legal Service, we're asking for low-cost, high-impact reform to address this important issue.

Learn more and join a campaign that brings this issue front-of-mind to MPs, journalists, and communities here: https://www.barwoncommunitylegal.org.au/photoid-campaign/