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 Seniors Rights Victoria’s free helpline on 1300 368 821 from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. 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 17 languages on the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria . Languages: Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Croatian, Filipino, Greek, Hindi, Macedonian, Polish, Punjabi, Serbian, Spanish, Russian, Tamil, Turkish 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.
Seniors Rights is a community legal centre that specialises in elder abuse. They provide a free and confidential helpline, legal advice and casework, advocacy and community education.
Help is available if you are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, elder abuse. Call Senior Rights Victoria’s free helpline on 1300 368 821 from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. 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 Seniors Rights Victoria 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. This program provides information, support and legal advice to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights of older people.
For more information on support services, see: Elder Abuse – DFFH .
Resources for multicultural communities
The Victorian Government has provided funding to the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria to work in partnership with Seniors Rights to raise community awareness of elder abuse in multicultural communities. Visit their websites for more information on preventing elder abuse in multicultural communities.
Elder abuse prevention brochures
Translated elder abuse prevention are available for download in 17 languages: Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Croatian, Filipino, Greek, Hindi, Macedonian, Polish, Punjabi, Serbian, Spanish, Russian, Tamil, Turkish 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 capacity to undertake primary prevention of elder abuse and drive greater impact across Victoria.
Learn more about the networks on the Preventing elder abuse .
More information
For more information on preventing elder abuse, visit:
- the Seniors Rights website
- the Respect Victoria , and
- the Ethnic Communities’ Council of website.
Reviewed 01 June 2025