Identifying and Responding to Abuse

The 5–step approach to identify and respond to abuse of an older person provides a framework for agencies that have staff, including volunteers, in positions where the abuse of an older person may be suspected, witnessed, or disclosed. This approach is aligned to the NSW Interagency Policy. Each section of the toolkit will focus and expand on these steps.

While there is no mandatory reporting of abuse of older people living in the community, it is expected that agencies will have policies and procedures in place that guide an appropriate response. There are some circumstances where agencies are required to report abuse to the NSW Police.

Where the abuse of the older person is reported to have occurred in a Commonwealth-funded Residential Aged Care setting, mandatory reporting applies and agencies should report to the Australian Government Department of Health on 1800 081 549.