Protecting the Rights of Older Australians

What is the abuse of older people (elder abuse)?

The Australian Government is committed to preventing and responding to the abuse of older people (also known as elder abuse).

Note: We provide policy support to address the abuse of older people. We cannot provide legal advice to the public or investigate any complaints of unlawful or abusive behaviour. For assistance with potential or actual cases of abuse, refer to information on the elder abuse phone line: 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374).

Abuse of older people is a complex issue that is often caused by someone the older person trusts, such as a family member, friend, professional or paid caregiver. Abuse can occur in a number of settings, including the older person's home. Sometimes, both the victim and perpetrator do not recognise that what is occurring is abuse. Abuse affects both men and women and people from all walks of life.

There are a range of definitions and frameworks to describe the abuse of older people.

The World Health Organisation (Toronto Declaration on the Global Prevention of Elder Abuse 2002) defines elder abuse as:

a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person. It can be of various forms: physical, psychological/emotional, sexual, financial or simply reflect intentional or unintentional neglect. Elder abuse is a violation of human rights and a significant cause of injury, illness, lost productivity, isolation and despair.

Abuse of older people in Australia

As at 30 June 2020, around 16% of the Australian population is aged 65 and over – approximately 4.2 million people. Australia has an ageing population and this number is projected to rise to 23% by 2060–61.

The National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study, released in December 2021, was the largest study to date into elder abuse in Australia. The research suggests that approximately 1 in 6 older Australians experience elder abuse in a given year.

Evidence also suggests that most abuse of older people is intra-familial and intergenerational, making it challenging and complex to address.

Australia’s response to the abuse of older people

Since 2016, the Australian Government has led a range of initiatives to respond to and prevent abuse of older people. These include:

• Implementing the National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians and developing a successor National Plan (currently underway)
• developing an Elder Abuse Knowledge Hub (Compass.info)
• targeting research activities to strengthen our understanding of the nature and prevalence of abuse in Australia
• increasing specialist front-line services to support older people and their families seeking help
• establishing a national helpline for elder abuse, 1800 ELDERHelp
• increasing community awareness and understanding of the abuse of older people
• supporting the establishment of the national peak body for elder abuse, Elder Abuse Action Australia (EAAA)
• supporting the work of the Australian Human Rights Commission's Age Discrimination Commissioner in tackling ageism
• working with states and territories to reform enduring powers of attorney arrangements.

National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians

The National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians (Elder Abuse) 2019-2023 (National Plan) was launched in 2019.

National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians (Elder Abuse) 2019-2023

The National Plan was developed in collaboration with state and territory governments, and outlines the priority actions for governments to respond to the abuse of older Australians.

It sets out a framework for ongoing cooperation, action and monitoring against 5 key priority areas:

1. Enhancing our understanding
2. Improving community awareness and access to information
3. Strengthening service responses
4. Planning for future decision-making
5. Strengthening safeguards for vulnerable older adults.

The National Plan complements, but does not replace, federal, state and territory policies about ageing and elder abuse.

The National Plan's release met a key recommendation of the Australian Law Reform Commission's 2017 report, Elder Abuse: A national legal response.

Companion documents to the National Plan

There are 3 companion documents supporting the National Plan:

• The Plan on a Page – a high-level summary of the key focus areas for governments over the 2019-2023 period
• Implementation Plan – federal, state and territory government initiatives addressing priority areas of the National Plan
• Everybody's business: Stocktake of elder abuse awareness, prevention and response activities in Australia - a comprehensive overview of the work already funded by governments around Australia, as well as other initiatives led by non-government organisations.

National Plan monitoring

An Implementation Executive Group made up of senior-level representatives from the federal, state and territory governments monitors and oversees the implementation of the National Plan and Implementation Plan and the development of the second National Plan.

Abuse of older people awareness campaign

The Australian Government has launched a national campaign that aims to help older people, together with their families and friends, feel more comfortable sharing concerns about abuse and increase awareness that support is available.

The campaign, ‘Ending the abuse of older people’, encourages people who may be experiencing abuse, or know someone that may be experiencing abuse, to:

• speak with someone they trust
• call 1800ELDERHelp (11800 353 374) for information or advice
• visit compass.info to find out more.

For more information on the campaign and a range of resources visit compass.info. You can also read the campaign certification statement.

Compass – guiding action on elder abuse

Compass – guiding action on elder abuse brings together the best resources and information on this issue from across the country. Funded by the Australian Government and developed by EAAA, Compass is designed to improve community awareness of elder abuse and access to information.

National research program

The Australian Government is focused on strengthening the evidence base on the nature and prevalence of elder abuse in Australia.

National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study

In 2019, we commissioned Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) to conduct Australia's first national study into the prevalence of elder abuse.

Read a full copy of the National Elder Abuse Prevalence Study on the AIFS website.

The study has improved our understanding of the scope and nature of elder abuse in Australia and continues to inform federal, state and territory policy and program design to address elder abuse.

Research insights

In March 2019, we also commissioned 2 research reports to build an evidence base and provide insights into the nature of abuse of older Australians. These reports complement the data collected in the prevalence study.

• Insights into vulnerabilities of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – In brief
• Insights into abuse of older people – analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics datasets.

Specialist elder abuse services

The Australian Government has committed further funding from 2022-23 to 2025-26 to continue to deliver specialist elder abuse services to older people experiencing, or at risk of, elder abuse.

The specialist elder abuse services have been trialled since 2018-19 and include the following components.

Specialist elder abuse units

The units comprise lawyers, social workers and other specialist and support staff who work side by side with clients to develop a case plan and respond to the individual's needs.

Health-justice partnerships

Older people in the health care system who are identified by health care workers and social workers as being at risk or potentially subjected to abuse can access specialised legal support services. These work in partnership with the health system and related referral agencies, such as community aged care services. Early evidence suggests this model reaches very vulnerable people who are not otherwise identified, such as those experiencing neglect and/or isolation.

Case management and mediation services

Case management and mediation services work with the older person and their family to find solutions to the underlying problems driving abuse. Elder abuse can have its roots in complex family relationships where there is conflict between adult children, family breakdown, family violence and mental health problems. This model recognises that older people may seek to first address issues within their family before seeking external assistance.

Read the evaluation of the specialist Elder Abuse Service Trials, completed in 2021

Eligibility for services

Generally, these services will assist people aged 65 and over, or 50 and over for First Nations Australians.

To access support from a service, you may be referred from another service or you can contact them directly to determine eligibility for assistance.

Each service primarily focuses on the older person, but other family members may use the services (particularly family-based mediation services) depending on the support required.

Services will be available in circumstances of abuse of older people, but it is possible abuse may be co-occurring with other issues (e.g. gambling addiction, substance misuse or lack of alternative accommodation), and referrals to other support providers may be required.

Grant recipients

The following services have received grants under the program:

Elder abuse phone line

1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374) is a free call phone number that automatically redirects callers seeking information and advice on elder abuse with the existing phone line service in their jurisdiction. The phone line was established in collaboration with state and territory governments.

Elder abuse phone lines are not crisis support services, and operating hours and services vary across jurisdictions.

If you require immediate assistance in an emergency or life-threatening situation, contact Triple Zero (000).

For assistance with other aged care issues, visit My Aged Care or call 1800 200 422.

To raise concerns about your aged care support, visit the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission website.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is commemorated each year on 15 June to highlight elder abuse.

The United Nations General Assembly officially recognised WEAAD in December 2011. This followed from a request by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA), who first established the commemoration in June 2006.

International Day of Older Persons

In 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated 1 October as the International Day of Older Persons. This date of significance is celebrated annually to recognise the contributions of older persons and to examine issues that affect their lives.

Resources

We have developed the 'Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business' animated video in different languages to increase awareness of elder abuse in the Australian community and provide guidance on where people can go to access help or further information.

• Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business animation video – Chinese Cantonese
• Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business animation video – Chinese Mandarin
• Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business animation video – Dutch
• Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business animation video – Filipino
• Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business animation video – German
• Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business animation video – Greek
• Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business animation video – Hindi
• Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business animation video – Italian
• Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business animation video – Malay
• Elder Abuse: Everyone's Business animation video – Vietnamese

1800ELDER Help phone line posters
Downloadable web tiles