Recognising and Supporting Elder Abuse — Reporting Financial, Emotional, and Neglect Abuse and Help Pathways

How to recognise financial, emotional, and neglect abuse and safely ask for help through Australia's official reporting and support pathways

What is elder abuse

Elder abuse refers to acts by someone in a relationship of trust that harm or cause suffering to an older person. In Australia, the person responsible is most often not a stranger but someone close, such as an adult child, relative, carer, or attorney under a power of attorney (POA holder). Abuse is not only physical violence; it takes many forms, including financial abuse (taking money and property), emotional/psychological abuse (causing mental distress through threats, insults, or isolation), and neglect (failing to provide needed care, food, or medical treatment). This guide helps older migrant families living in Australia, together with their children and carers, to recognise this kind of abuse and ask for help through official pathways.

Distinguishing it from spousal and aged care facility issues

If the person responsible is a spouse or intimate partner, this falls within family and domestic violence, where dedicated support such as 1800RESPECT is more appropriate (see the family and domestic violence support guide). Conversely, if the issue is the quality of a service at a nursing home or in home care, the aged care services guide and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission pathway are the right fit. How to create a power of attorney is covered in the wills and power of attorney guide; this guide focuses on the misuse and financial exploitation of a power of attorney that has already been made.

Steps to recognise abuse and ask for help

If you suspect abuse, you do not have to decide for yourself whether it is a criminal matter — you can first ask for help via a helpline. The national elder abuse helpline 1800ELDERHelp (1800 353 374) automatically connects you to the helpline for the state or territory you are calling from, and calls are free and confidential. Online, you can find help pathways and services by state at the national information hub Compass. If it is urgent or there is immediate danger, call 000 (police and ambulance) first. State helpline numbers and services can change over time, so it is safest to check the latest information on Compass and official state government pages.

What can you talk about — you do not need to be certain

You can contact a helpline even if you are not sure whether it is abuse or whether it is worth reporting. The advisers will help you work through the situation together and guide you to next steps such as a safety plan, legal help, and advocacy. Not only the person themselves, but also concerned family, neighbours, or carers can make an enquiry on their behalf. That said, the guiding principle is that the final decision respects the wishes of the person experiencing the abuse.

1800ELDERHelp (1800 353 374) — national helpline, automatically connected to your state's helpline (free and confidential)
Compass (compass.info) — search help pathways and services by state, with explanations of each type of abuse
In an emergency or immediate danger, 000 (police and ambulance); for non-urgent police enquiries, your state police on 131 444

In Australia, there is no universal mandatory reporting scheme for elder abuse. Do not confuse this with the mandatory reporting scheme for child abuse. As an exception, in government-funded aged care, providers are required to report serious incidents to the authorities under the SIRS (Serious Incident Response Scheme). Abuse in the community and at home is addressed through reports and support sought by the person and their family.

What is worth preparing before you ask for help

Briefly organising the situation before seeking support or reporting can help you get assistance faster. It does not have to be perfect — simply noting down the facts you remember and the things that worry you is enough. If you are not comfortable in English, you can get support in many languages, including Korean, through the free interpreting service TIS National (131 450); just say at the start of the call that you need an interpreter.

Note in chronological order what happened and when, whether it has been repeated, and the people involved (including their relationship)
If you have documents related to financial abuse — such as bank transactions, contracts, or copies of the power of attorney (POA) — keep them safe
The person's safety comes first — if there is danger, call 000 or secure a safe place before worrying about records

Organising information is only to help you get support; the person is not responsible for determining or proving on their own whether abuse has occurred. Remedies for financial exploitation or misuse of a power of attorney, and criminal matters, are assessed in consultation with Legal Aid, a state tribunal, or the police, and this guide is not legal advice.

Understanding abuse by type

Abuse can also occur in overlapping forms, and the following four are particularly often reported in older migrant families. Knowing the signs of each type can help you recognise it early.

Financial abuse

Using someone's money, pension, or property without consent, or pressuring them to sign documents or transfer ownership. This includes an attorney holding a power of attorney (POA) using funds for personal purposes beyond their authority. Bankbooks or cash suddenly disappearing, or unpaid bills, can be signs.

Emotional/psychological abuse

Acts that cause mental distress through threats, insults, dismissiveness, or isolation. It can take the form of blocking contact with family and friends, or demanding obedience in return for care. The person may also show signs of anxiety, withdrawal, or depression.

Neglect

A person with a duty of care failing to provide needed food, hygiene, medical care, or safety. This includes both deliberate and careless neglect, with signs such as malnutrition, untreated illness, or unsuitable living conditions.

Misuse of power of attorney (POA)

Using financial or legal representative authority for the attorney's own benefit rather than in the person's interest. Remedies include applying to revoke the power of attorney or seek oversight through the Public Trustee, Public Guardian, or state tribunal; because procedures and agency names differ by state, check with Legal Aid.

Step-by-step practical tips

A checklist to help you move forward step by step without panicking when you suspect abuse.

If there is immediate danger, call 000 first and secure safety.
Even if you are not certain, get advice through 1800ELDERHelp (1800 353 374) or Compass and be guided to next steps.
If you are not comfortable in English, request an interpreter through TIS National (131 450) and get support in your own language.
For financial exploitation or misuse of a power of attorney, connect with Legal Aid or a state tribunal; for advocacy, with OPAN and similar services.
Respect the person's wishes and dignity, and keep offering support without rushing their decisions.

Cautions and common misconceptions

The following misconceptions can delay help or lead to the wrong pathway, so they deserve particular care.

The misconception that "you have to make a mandatory report" — Australia has no universal mandatory reporting for elder abuse (aged care SIRS is the exception). Do not confuse this with the child mandatory reporting scheme.
The idea that "it's a family matter, so I shouldn't get involved" — helplines are confidential, and you can start with a conversation rather than a report.
Treating cases where the person responsible is a spouse or partner solely as elder abuse — in these cases, family and domestic violence support (1800RESPECT) is more appropriate.
Mistaking issues of care quality at an aged care facility for abuse between individuals — this is the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and aged care services pathway.
Using out-of-date figures, contact details, or tribunal names — because they differ by state and change over time, you need to check the latest information on Compass and official state government pages.

Useful official links

Frequently Asked Questions

Who usually commits elder abuse?▾

In Australia, the person responsible is more often someone in a relationship of trust — such as an adult child, relative, carer, or attorney under a power of attorney (POA holder) — rather than a stranger. This makes it harder to notice and easy to hesitate about reporting. Even if you are not certain, you can call a helpline first to work through the situation together.

Does Australia have a mandatory reporting scheme for elder abuse?▾

For ordinary elder abuse in the community and at home, there is no universal mandatory reporting scheme. Do not confuse this with the mandatory reporting scheme for child abuse. As an exception, in government-funded aged care, providers are required to report serious incidents to the authorities under the SIRS (Serious Incident Response Scheme).

Who do I contact if the person responsible is my spouse or partner?▾

Abuse by a spouse or intimate partner falls within family and domestic violence, where dedicated support such as 1800RESPECT is more appropriate. See the family and domestic violence support guide. Calling a helpline can also connect you to the right pathway for your situation.

Can I get support and make a report even if my English is limited?▾

Yes. Through the free interpreting service TIS National (131 450), you can get support in many languages, including Korean. Call the helpline and say you need an interpreter, and one will be connected. Interpreting costs are not charged to you.

What can I do if someone misuses a power of attorney (POA) to siphon off assets?▾

If an attorney under a power of attorney exceeds their authority and uses funds for personal purposes, this can amount to financial abuse. Remedies include applying to revoke the power of attorney or seek oversight through the Public Trustee, Public Guardian, or state tribunal. Because agency names and procedures differ by state, seek advice from Legal Aid. This guidance is not legal advice.

If I make a report, will the person be forced into an aged care facility?▾

No. The response is guided by the principle of respecting the wishes and dignity of the person experiencing the abuse. Support is about helping with a safety plan and connecting to services — it is not a process for deciding where someone lives against their will. It is important to keep offering support without rushing their decisions.

Where do I report abuse that happens in an aged care facility?▾

For issues within government-funded aged care and home care services, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and the aged care services pathway are the right fit. You can also get advocacy support from OPAN. This is distinct from abuse between individuals — for the detailed process, see the aged care services guide.