The Minister for Human Services, Cassy O'Connor, has today announced Advocacy Tasmania has been selected to operate a new Tasmanian Elder Abuse Helpline.

Speaking on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Ms O'Connor said Advocacy Tasmania's extensive experience in working with older Tasmanians made the organisation the ideal choice to run the new helpline.

"Advocacy Tasmania has a strong track record in helping vulnerable members of society and advocating for the rights of older people," Ms O'Connor said.

Ms O'Connor said the Helpline formed part of the Government's Elder Abuse Prevention Strategy, and would provide Tasmanians with advice and information on dealing with and preventing elder abuse.

Advocacy Tasmania CEO Ken Hardaker said his organisation was pleased to have been funded to operate this important service.

"While the problem of elder abuse is not new, what is new is people will now have someone to call for information and advice on prevention and responding to elder abuse," Mr Hardaker said.

Ms O'Connor said the Government was also introducing several other initiatives to prevent elder abuse.

These include a community elder abuse awareness campaign to start once the Helpline is operating and practice guidelines for service providers working with older people to help them identify and respond to suspected elder abuse.

"These practice guidelines will help us undertake a statewide training program on elder abuse for government and non-government practitioners working with older people," she said.

"Service providers are well positioned to identify and intervene in elder abuse situations, and this training is essential for an effective and sustainable elder abuse prevention response.

"We are also working with the Department of Justice to ensure that enduring power of attorney provisions in the Powers of Attorney Act 2000, and enduring guardian provisions in the Guardianship and Administration Act 1995 are strengthened, to protect the rights of older people.

"We want to ensure that there are appropriate safeguards in place against the potential misuse of these powers."

Ms O'Connor said elder abuse could take many forms including the misuse of older people's funds, physical abuse and emotional deprivation or manipulation.

"Elder abuse is usually carried out by someone close to the older person and who they trust, such as family members and friends," she said.

"Whatever form it takes, elder abuse is simply unacceptable and we need to work together as a community to combat it."

Ms O'Connor said the new helpline was expected to begin operation in early August.

For further information on the Government's Elder Abuse Prevention Strategy visit www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/elderabuse