“The Abuse of Older Australians (Elder Abuse)”: Reform Activity and Imperatives

Abstract

ABSTRACT Significant national reform activity is occurring that concerns the abuse of older people by trusted others. This includes an Australian Law Reform Commission report entitled Elder Abuse – A National Legal Response (2017), and the adoption in 2019 of the first ever “National plan to respond to the abuse of older Australians (elder abuse)”. While service responses in this field largely exist at, and will continue to be provided at, state and territory level, this article considers current and needed reform initiatives in a field of increasing national government attention. IMPLICATIONS The adoption of the first ever national plan concerning the abuse of older people in Australia adds significant impetus and direction for reform in this key social policy area. Most service and regulatory reforms aimed at improving responses to the abuse of older people will occur at state and territory level. The breadth of likely and necessary reforms is significant, ranging from policing practices through to guardianship law reform.