Elder Abuse

Did you know that the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare findings show at least 15% of our elderly population in Australia has experienced abuse. This is just the reported number. We find that most seniors being abused will not report as they are ashamed, embarrassed or in fear of retribution by the perpetrator. Abusers are often family members or people known to the elder person.

Elder abuse is any act or failure to act that causes harm or distress to an older person, often by someone they know and trust. It can take many forms, including financial exploitation and scams, neglect, physical harm, emotional abuse, or controlling behaviour. 

Reporting will depend on the type of abuse and who the perpetrator is. We strongly recommend that all forms of abuse be reported.

If your concerns are regarding abuse or neglect in an Aged Care Facility, firstly contact the facility manager and place your complaint in writing. If the matter is not resolved you can Call the Aged Care Quality &  Safety Commission on 1800 951 822 or lodge on line at https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/contact-us/complaints-concerns/what-do-if-you-have-complaint

OPAN (Older Persons Advocacy Network) are another advocacy service and have lots of information on their website. https://opan.org.au/

1. call Policelink on 13 14 44 – (all abuse) ask to be put through to the Vulnerable Persons Command – Once through let them know it is for Elder Abuse, and you should be put through to a specialist in the Elder Abuse Portfolio. It is important that this be reported. It is better to use this avenue than report it via the local police station.

2. Contact your bank (financial abuse & scams) – the elder (or Enduring Power of Attorney) needs to report that elder financial abuse is in play, and the bank can put restrictions on the elder’s bank account to prevent online transfers and only allow transfers in the branch. This is often a good first measure to prevent impulse transfers or access to an account by fraud online. 

3.Office of Fair Trade (Financial scams) – they handle a lot of financial scams and if you have the scammers name, they can even tell you if that person is already listed as a known scammer.  QLD line is 13 74 68, call and report. This helps them also track scammers if the scammer is not already listed. Talking to them is often a good reality check for seniors as they are not alone and this happens a lot.

4.     Elder Abuse Prevention Unit (all abuse)– 1300 651 192 – this is more an information line that can listen to the elder, offers support over the phone and can refer them to other organisations for assistance.

5.     Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) Services – It’s important for the elder to have an EPA in place to help prevent or stop further loss if it is financial abuse. They should seek legal advice when choosing a trusted person, such as a family member or lawyer, to act as their EPA. Not all lawyers offer EPA services (such as managing finances, paying bills, or making care decisions), so if no trusted family member is available, finding a law firm that provides this is crucial. If the current EPA is the abuser, the elder should seek independent legal advice immediately. Please contact us for a referral to a trusted lawyer from our panel.

6.     Scam Watch (financial scams)– report a scam to help others https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam

7     ID risk (Financial & Cyber scams & ID fraud) – If you feel you have provided too much personal ID to the scammer or have given banking information or is at risk of identity theft or a data breach then also seek help from ID Care this is a free service https://www.idcare.org

• ADA Australia
  Provides general advocacy support or guardianship advocacy to older Queenslanders experiencing discrimination, harm or abuse.
  Phone: 1800 700 600
• Queensland Human Rights Commission
  Phone: 1300 130 670
• Beyond Blue
  Depression and anxiety information, advice and referrals.
  Phone: 1300 224 636
• Crime Stoppers
  Information provided by the community assists with crime fighting and crime prevention.
  Phone: 1800 333 000
• DV Connect
  Provides free help for women, men, children, and pets affected by domestic and family violence across Queensland.
  Phone Women's Line: 1800 811 811
  Phone Men's Line: 1800 600 636
• Lifeline
  Counselling services for anyone at any time.
  Phone: 13 11 14Customers have questions, you have answers. Display the most frequently asked questions, so everybody benefits.

• Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
  Appoints guardians or administrators to act on behalf of adults with impaired decision making capacity.
  Phone: 1300 753 228
• Seniors legal services
  Free legal and support services for seniors.
• Sexual assault help services
  Contact details for local support groups.
• Statewide sexual assault helpline
  Counselling services for anyone who has been sexually abused or sexually assaulted at any time of their lives.
  Phone: 1800 010 120
• Home - Victim Connect
  If you have experienced a violent form of elder abuse, including sexual or physical assault, specialised free counselling and support are available. If you are currently experiencing violence, call the Queensland Police Service immediately on Triple Zero (000).
  Phone: 1300 318 940 (24 hours, 7 days)
• Victims Register
  An information service established to inform victims of violent and sexual crimes about the status of the person who offended against them.
  Phone: 1800 098 098
• Women's Infolink
  A free and confidential information and referral services about government agencies and community services supporting women.
  Phone: 1800 177 577 (Mondays to Fridays, 8am to 6pm)