Upcoming Money Month Workshop 2: Protection and Advocacy

Financial harm can be difficult to recognise, especially when it develops slowly or involves someone the person trusts.

This workshop will look at financial abuse, exploitation, coercive control, scams and technology-related risks. It will help care partners and whānau understand what to look for and where to seek help.

It will also be useful for people supporting someone living with dementia who owns, runs, founded, or has interests in a business, farm, professional practice or investment portfolio. When oversight of these assets becomes harder, the person may become more vulnerable to pressure, poor decision-making or financial exploitation. Care partners and whānau may also be asked to help protect assets they did not create and may not fully understand.

The session will cover

• Economic harm and financial abuse
• Exploitation and coercive control
• Signs that someone may be at risk
• Scams and technology-related vulnerability
• How financial abuse can occur in a business context
• Ways organisations may be able to support vulnerable customers
• Where to go for help and support

Join Winifred Henderson, Senior Educator at Dementia New Zealand, Jared Hutcheson, Programme Manager at Westpac, and Phoebe Tan from DLA Piper, to learn how early action, clear records, trusted support and professional advice can help protect a person’s independence, dignity and safety.

For international registrations (outside of New Zealand), please email events@dementia.nz.

About our speakers

Winifred Henderson
Senior Educator, Dementia New Zealand

Winifred Henderson is Senior Educator for Dementia New Zealand, delivering education to communities, residential aged care staff and residents, and healthcare professionals. She delivers popular monthly online Dementia Talks. She holds a Master of Dementia with distinction and a postgraduate qualification in Psychology. Having supported her mother as primary care partner for eight years, she brings valuable lived experience. Winifred is passionate about empowering people living with dementia, supporting care partners, raising awareness, and reducing stigma.

JH

Jared Hutcheson
Programme Manager, Financial Wellbeing, Westpac NZ

Jared Hutcheson is the Programme Manager of Financial Wellbeing at Westpac NZ Ltd, and is a fierce advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and financial empowerment. Through these avenues, you’ll find Jared running financial literacy workshops through the dedicated Managing Your Money programme, through to advising on and liaising with agencies on support for sectors that include the disability and dementia community, through to a wide and varied service provider sector.

Phoebe Tan
Finance team, DLA Piper

DLA Piper is a global commercial law firm with a strong commitment to pro bono and community engagement. In New Zealand, the firm works with charities, community groups and other stakeholders on initiatives focused on financial abuse, economic harm, consumer vulnerability and improving access to justice for vulnerable communities. Phoebe Tan, a member of DLA Piper’s finance team, joins this webinar to share practical insights on protecting and supporting vulnerable people, drawing on both the firm’s financial services expertise and its community-based work.

General information only

These workshops provide general information and links to services and resources. Dementia New Zealand does not provide legal or financial advice. Westpac, McVeagh Fleming and DLA Piper will provide information relevant to their areas of work, but the sessions are not a substitute for advice about your own circumstances.

Please speak with a lawyer, financial adviser, accountant or another qualified professional before making legal or financial decisions.