Elder abuse in QLD to be investigated
Input sought from government committee in Queensland to better identify elder abuse and protect the vulnerable.

The Queensland Parliament’s Education, Arts and Communities Committee is calling for submissions for an investigation into elder abuse in the state.
The committee states they will be looking closely at the current systems in place to support those at risk, including healthcare, guardianship, emergency, and community services.
Statistics released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare tell us around one in six older people experience elder abuse.
Committee chair Nigel Hutton said the committee particularly wanted to hear from those who have experienced elder abuse, so they can determine the nature and extent of it in the community.
“Elder abuse can take a lot of forms. It can be physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, or financial,” Mr Hutton said.

“We know it can happen at home and can happen in institutional settings. The perpetrator might be a family member, friend, neighbour, carer, partner, service provider, or somebody else an older person should be able to trust.”
Mr Hutton added that the inquiry would help make sure everybody is working together to better identify elder abuse, prevent it, and protect those who are most vulnerable.
The terms of reference call upon the committee to consider:
- the abuse of older people in Queensland, defined as a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, in the context of a relationship of trust, causing harm or distress
- effectiveness and cohesiveness of responses to elder abuse, including Queensland laws, policies, programs and services, in preventing, safeguarding, identifying and responding to elder abuse
- opportunities to improve responses to elder abuse in Queensland, within the government, broader community, non-government, and private sectors, including ensuring responses are trauma informed and culturally appropriate.
Public hearings in Queensland will commence mid-February 2025. The closing date for submissions is 5pm on Thursday 10 April 2025.
The inquiry will consider voices of people with lived experience of elder abuse, views of other stakeholders and relevant findings, reports and prevalence studies relating to elder abuse.
Information about the hearings and submission process can be found here.
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