Elder abuse — the mistreatment of an older person, often by someone in a relationship of trust — affects approximately 1 in 6 older Australians. Financial abuse is the most common form, followed by psychological abuse and neglect. Family members — including adult children and partners — are the most common perpetrators. Despite the scale, elder abuse remains significantly under-reported and under-resourced. Grant funding supports elder abuse prevention, helplines, legal assistance, professional training, and the advocacy that builds a society where older Australians are safe, respected, and empowered.
Scale
Types of elder abuse
Risk factors
Where it occurs
National Plan to Respond to the Abuse of Older Australians
Australian Government framework — includes elder abuse hotline funding.
1800 ELDERHelp
National elder abuse hotline — funded by Department of Health.
State elder abuse services
Each state has elder abuse response services, varying in scope.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Regulates aged care and responds to abuse in residential care.
Legal Aid Commissions
Some provide legal services for elder abuse victims.
Age Concern Australia
Elder abuse prevention and response services.
Council on the Ageing (COTA)
Advocacy for older Australians including elder abuse.
National Seniors Australia
Advocacy and information on elder abuse.
Various law foundations
Legal assistance for elder abuse victims.
Women's legal services
Some specialise in elder abuse where DV is also a factor.
Helplines and information
Legal assistance
Financial abuse prevention
Aged care abuse response
Professional training
Community awareness
Dementia-specific
Research
Indigenous elder abuse
The most common financial abuse mechanism involves Powers of Attorney (POA) — legal documents that give another person authority to manage financial affairs:
- Older people sign POA under pressure or without full understanding
- POA used to drain bank accounts, transfer property, change wills
- Limited oversight of POA use in many states
Grant funding for:
- Legal literacy around POA (what it means, safeguards)
- POA reform advocacy (protective registries, oversight)
- Legal advice for people concerned about POA misuse
Legal assistance gap
Elder abuse victims often have complex legal needs (property, wills, POA) but cannot afford private legal services. Applications funding legal assistance for elder abuse victims address a significant access gap.
Financial institution training
Banks and financial institutions are often the first to identify financial elder abuse. Applications training bank staff to identify, respond, and refer are high-leverage.
Dementia and elder abuse
People with dementia are disproportionately vulnerable to elder abuse. Applications with dementia-specific elder abuse components address the highest-risk population.
Under-reporting
Many elder abuse victims don't report because they depend on the perpetrator, love them, or don't recognise what is happening as abuse. Applications that make it easier to access help — confidentially, without immediately involving police — are more accessible.
Tahua's grants management platform supports elder abuse funders and older people's safety organisations — with case tracking, victim support data, legal outcome measurement, and the reporting tools that help elder abuse funders demonstrate their investment in the safety and dignity of Australia's older adults.