Summary
- Elder abuse is an act that causes harm to an older person, carried out by someone the older person knows and trusts.
- If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 000.
- Help is available if you are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, elder abuse.
- Call the free elder abuse helpline on 1300 368 821 from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. This service is delivered by Seniors Rights Victoria. If you need an interpreter, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to call the helpline.
- Access elder abuse prevention brochures in 24 languages on the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria . Languages: Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Croatian, Dari, English, Farsi, Filipino, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Punjabi, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Russian, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
About elder abuse
Elder abuse is a form of family violence. It is an act that causes harm to an older person, carried out by someone the older person knows and trusts.
It can take many forms, including:
- Financial
- Psychological or emotional
- Physical
- Sexual
- Social
- Neglect.
Elder abuse can include one or a combination of these different types of abuse. Learn more about how to identify these forms of abuse on the Seniors Rights website.
All forms of abuse are unacceptable. Elder abuse can affect anyone, irrespective of background, gender, ethnicity or means.
Elder abuse can happen in any kind of family or relationship.
Research shows that up to 15 per cent of older people may be experiencing elder abuse. The real number is estimated to be much higher because elder abuse is often under reported.
There’s no place for elder abuse in our community.
Where to seek help
Your safety and wellbeing are important. Never feel ashamed to ask for help for yourself, or someone you care about.
Help is available if you are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, elder abuse. Call the free elder abuse helpline on 1300 368 821 from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. This service is delivered by Seniors Rights Victoria. If you need an interpreter, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to call the helpline.
If you are a concerned friend or family member:
- encourage the older person to call the elder abuse helpline on 1300 368 821, or
- access information and online.
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 000.
The Victorian Government funds Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria to deliver Seniors Rights Victoria and the elder abuse helpline. This program provides information, support and legal advice to help prevent elder abuse and promote the rights of older people.
Help is also available through the following services:
- The Orange provides help for people experiencing or using family violence. The Orange Door is a free service and operates during business hours (9 am to 5 pm) from Monday to Friday (closed public holidays). You do not need a referral or an appointment. You can attend in person or reach out by phone.
- 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. It is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- The Victims of Crime Helpline (1800 819 817) provides free information and support for people affected by crime. The free helpline is open from 8 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday and 8 am to 5 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
For more information on support services, visit: Elder Abuse on the Services .
Resources for multicultural communities
The Victorian Government has provided funding to the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria to raise community awareness of elder abuse in multicultural communities. Visit their website for more information on preventing elder abuse in multicultural communities.
Elder abuse prevention brochures
Translated elder abuse prevention are available for download in 24 languages: Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Croatian, Dari, English, Farsi, Filipino, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Punjabi, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Russian, Tamil, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
‘Within My Walls’ video series
Within my is a community education short film series that explores the lives of older people in suburban Melbourne who have been impacted by mistreatment by their family.
The 5 videos address stigma about accepting help outside the family, not knowing where to go for help and increased dependency on adult children due to migration.
The series is available in 14 languages: Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, English, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Tagalog, Turkish and Vietnamese.
Elder Abuse Prevention Networks
There are eight Elder Abuse Prevention Networks (EAPNs) in Victoria. These networks deliver local action to raise awareness of elder abuse and prevent it from happening in the first place.
Local action can look like:
- World Elder Abuse Awareness Day events
- Intergenerational community sessions
- Training on ageist language
- Age inclusivity website audits.
The networks include a range of representatives. This includes community groups, organisations or businesses that work with, or provide services to, older people and others.
The EAPN is a practical resource to support and strengthen the role of EAPNs working to drive social change at a local level. The guide supports professionals to build sector capability to undertake primary prevention of elder abuse and drive greater impact across Victoria.
Learn more about the networks, and find links to their websites, on the Preventing elder abuse web .
More information
For more information on preventing elder abuse, visit:
Reviewed 31 May 2026