Second National Plan Research & Consultation Report

As part of developing the Second National Plan to Prevent and Respond to the Abuse of Older People in Australia, the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department engaged EAAA to lead a national research and consultation project.

Over a six-week period, we undertook face-to-face focus groups in each capital city, the Riverland area in South Australia, and Katherine in the Northern Territory. Dedicated focus groups for First Nations and multicultural organisations were also arranged to ensure we heard from diverse community voices. 

With the release today of the draft Second National Plan, we're pleased to share our Research & Consultation Report which can be downloaded in full below. We've also shared the Foreword from the report by our then Co-Chairs, Jenny Blakey and Sue Leitch.

In committing to a Second National Plan to Prevent and Respond to the Abuse of Older People in Australia, the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department undertook to listen to community members and service providers, through Elder Abuse Action Australia, about the priorities for that Plan.

EAAA was privileged to travel across the country and listen to people with lived experience, service providers, community organisations and others who are passionate about stopping the abuse of older people. They have generously shared their observations about the strengths of the current response as well as the issues requiring immediate and/or sustained focus.

In developing this report, we have endeavoured to bring forth the complexity of the abuse of older people living in Australia, including:

• the tension between protecting older people from abuse AND upholding older people’s privacy and right to autonomy
• the drive among some (although not all) older people to hold onto relationships even in the face of abuse
• the fragmented and inadequate access to the specialist and mainstream service system response across the country.

We have also sought to reflect on the deep humanity of the experience, including through quotes from participants in the consultations. We offer this report as a contribution to the national conversation and as a specific input into the development of the next National Plan.

We are grateful for the support of the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department. We are deeply appreciative of all those who participated in focus groups and interviews, including those who shared their insight based on lived experience, their role in the service system and as leaders of their communities.

As you told us, we have generations worth of work ahead. We commend this report to you and look forward to working with you to translate the issues and recommendations into a program of work for the forthcoming Second National Plan to Prevent and Respond to the Abuse of Older People in Australia.

Jenny Blakey and Sue Leitch
Co-Chairs
Elder Abuse Action Australia
December 2023

Download the full report