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The Minister for Ageing has formed a new advisory committee for older Victorians to share their insights with government.
The Senior Victorians Advisory Committee will provide a voice to the government on the lived experiences of older Victorians. The Committee will inform related government policy and programs, including the implementation of the Ageing Well Action Plan .
People 60 years and over, and First Nations people 50 years and over, were invited to apply for community roles on the Committee.
The Committee has 8 community members, including the Chairperson, and 4 sector members. The Committee members reflect the diversity and lived experience of older Victorians. They have a wide range of professional skills, volunteering and leadership experience and community connections.
Committee members will have the opportunity to:
- share their perspectives
- track and advise on priority issues for older people
- raise awareness around the ways older people contribute to Victorian communities
- promote respect for older people.
The Committee is appointed for a three-year term, which will expire at the end of 2027.
Meet the Committee
Community members
Associate Professor Sue Harrison OAM (Chair)
Sue is passionate about ensuring an informed rural voice on the committee. Sue has lived experience as a carer for her quadriplegic husband, parents and father-in-law. Sue has a 40-year career in rural health as a generalist doctor and medical university educator.
Sue has extensive governance experience advocating for regional communities on boards and committees. Sue specialises in aged care advocacy and is currently navigating issues for people with a disability in aged care services. Sue was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2024 for her work in rural health advocacy and services to her community.
Brenda Appleton OAM
Brenda is a transgender woman who is passionate about LGBTIQA+ representation on the committee. Brenda is a leader and tireless advocate for trans and gender diverse communities in Victoria. She has extensive experience on committees and taskforces and over 35 years professional experience in corporate roles. Brenda was the first transgender person in Australia to be appointed chair of a ministerial advisory committee.
Brenda was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2019 for her service to the LGBTIQ community of Victoria, the Voltaire Human Rights Award in 2022, the Victoria Senior of the Year Award in 2018 and was included on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2017.
Dr Chukwudozie (Dozie) Ezigbalike
A Nigerian man living in Melbourne, Dozie is passionate about advocating for older people from new and emerging migrant communities. Dozie has first-hand experience and interest in important issues for older people such as social isolation, health and wellbeing.
Dozie is Secretary of the Nigerian Senior Citizens Club of Victoria, a member of the Igbo Association of Victoria, and parent member of his local school council. Dozie’s professional background is in spatial-data infrastructure and land information management. He worked for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in various roles and is a former university educator and researcher.
Aunty Gabby Gamble
Aunty Gabby is an Aboriginal woman and survivor of the Stolen Generation who lives in regional Victoria. Aunty Gabby is a passionate advocate for Elders who are survivors of lateral violence/ elder abuse and are afraid to speak up.
Aunty Gabby is a person with a disability and has lived experience as a carer for her husband with complex needs, who wishes to remain at home. Aunty Gabby helps Aboriginal Elders and their families navigate legal issues, self-determination, and access to services. Aunty Gabby shares her experience with a range of committees and working groups. She received the Minister for Health Outstanding Achievement Award by a Volunteer - Supporting Diversity in 2017.
Jan Laidlaw
Jan is a passionate advocate for older people’s access to information, services and transport. Jan is a single parent and survivor of family violence. She is a person with a disability and has lived experience receiving MyAgedCare.
Jan served as mayor and long-standing councillor in the City of Newtown (now City of Greater Geelong), and has professional experience across education, employment services, and libraries. She has a strong history of community advocacy on committees and working groups in the Geelong area. Jan is a founding member of the Chilwell Library Group that was instrumental in reversing the council’s decision to close the library and instead invest in a redeveloped Chilwell Library Community Hub.
Linette Harriott
Linette is passionate about ensuring that all older people are treated with dignity and respect. Linette identifies as LGBTIQA+ and as a person with a disability. She has lived experience as a carer for her parents, one of whom has dementia.
Linette’s professional experience spans over 40 years as a coach, counsellor, trainer educator and manager in community organisations and welfare services for sexual assault and family violence. Linette has a range of experiences on boards, committees and working groups. Currently, Linette volunteers as a mentor for young people in RMIT Pride and industry mentoring programs and is a member of the Barwon Water Community Consultation Committee.
Mariamma John
A woman of Indian heritage living in regional Victoria, Mariamma is passionate about seniors being independent, active, healthy and happy.
Through her volunteer work in the Ballarat area, Mariama helps older people access information and services, stay healthy and active and participate in cultural celebrations. Mariamma raises funds and donations for local community initiatives. Mariamma was awarded the City of Ballarat 2024 Seniors Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Van Pho
Van is passionate about advocating for seniors' mental health, independent living and maintaining family and community connection.
Van arrived in Australia as a refugee from Vietnam in 1982. Van is the President of the Federation of Vietnamese Associations in Victoria. He formerly was Secretary-General for the Vietnamese Community in Australia’s Victorian chapter, which provides social support services and cultural activities for the 130,000+ Vietnamese Australians living in Victoria. Van previously worked as a SBS radio freelancer, Lifeline Australia crisis counsellor, Commonwealth-appointed celebrant and language teacher.
Sector members
Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria
Council on the Ageing (COTA) is a not-for-profit member organisation representing the interests and rights of people over 50 years old in Victoria. COTA Victoria auspices key programs including Seniors Rights , a community legal centre that specialises in elder abuse, and the COTA WISE Information Line.
Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV)
The Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation representing the interests of older people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. ECCV builds capacity in ethnic seniors groups and delivers the ‘Raising awareness of elder abuse in ethnic communities’ project, which trains bilingual community educators to deliver in-language sessions that raise awareness of elder abuse and support pathways.
Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV)
The Municipal Association of Victoria is a membership association and the legislated peak body for local government. Their role is to build the capacity of local councils, facilitate effective networks and initiate policy development and advice. MAV supports local government’s positive ageing work to strengthen health and wellbeing and participation opportunities for senior Victorians.
Switchboard Victoria
Switchboard is a community based not-for-profit organisation that provides a peer driven, support service for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, intersex, queer, asexual (LGBTIQA+) communities across Victoria and their allies, friends, support workers and families. Switchboard is delivering the Pride in Ageing pilot , which aims to build partnerships to support community engagement and connection for older LGBTI+ people.
Reviewed 17 December 2024