Elder abuse is in the spotlight with the Queensland Parliament’s Education, Arts and Communities Committee calling for submissions for its inquiry.
Committee Chair and Member for Keppel, Mr Nigel Hutton MP said the committee is eager to hear from Queenslanders about the nature and extent of elder abuse, and how we can prevent and safeguard against it.
“We particularly want to hear from those who have experienced elder abuse, so we can determine the nature and extent of it in the community,” Mr Hutton said.
“Elder abuse can take a lot of forms. It can be physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, or financial.
“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.
“Devastatingly, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare tells us around one in six older people experience elder abuse.”
Mr Hutton said the committee is going to be looking closely at the current systems in place to support those at risk, including healthcare, guardianship, emergency, and community services. “This will help make sure everybody is working together to better identify elder abuse, prevent it, and protect those who are most vulnerable,” he said.
The committee also welcomes responses from stakeholders with insight into elder abuse and its prevention.
Public hearings will be held around Queensland, beginning mid-February 2025. Information about the hearings and submission process are on the committee webpage: www.parliament.qld.gov.au/elderabuse.
