Elder advocate Christine Zambonetti named Senior Advocate of the Year at Council on the Ageing WA awards

An Albany woman who has spent the past three years championing elders’ rights and helping them “protect themselves” has been named the State’s seniors advocate of the year. Christine Zambonetti was presented with the title at the Council on the Ageing WA Seniors Awards ceremony in Perth on Tuesday. Serving as the Great Southern’s only outreach advocate through Advocare, Ms Zambonetti works tirelessly to manage hundreds of cases across the region, ensuring older people are educated on abuse and their rights, supported and connected with the services they need. She said she was “shocked” to win the top gong, noting it was “really amazing” to meet so many like-minded people with “palpable passion” for their work. “I really love what I do, and think it shows in my work,” she said. “I’m so passionate about the rights of older people and helping them feel like they can speak up without feeling disempowered. “I’m trying to fight against ageism and make the system better for all of us, as we will all need it eventually.” The American expat — who has lived in the Great Southern for more than 35 years — said elder abuse was an insidious, hidden part of the region and she believed the statistics of one in six older people falling prey to it were an underrepresentation. “It’s not just broken bones or psychological harm — it’s financial abuse or coercive control, which unfortunately is usually by family members,” she said. “Elder abuse is not going away, and is a very common occurrence in the Great Southern. “I help people try to protect themselves and learn the flavour of each region, figure out what’s working well and report what isn’t, which then that goes up the chain to government so they can hopefully change it. “People who live in the country deserve the same respect, advocacy and services as those in the city.” The 59-year-old previously worked in dementia care and now splits her time advocating with her volunteer paramedic service. Ms Zambonetti beat fellow Albany resident Stephen Edmonds for the coveted title, while residents Bob Symons and Michael Pemberton were nominated for senior of the year. Minister for Seniors and Ageing Don Punch congratulated all finalists and winners at the ceremony for contributing to an “age-friendly” Western Australia. “Recognising and celebrating the great value older people bring to community life is so important, and the WA Seniors Awards are a great way to celebrate older people’s contributions to the WA community,” he said. Ms Zambonetti works from her office in Lotteries House on North Road, and takes appointments.