World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 15 June 2025

Everyone has the right to live free from mistreatment, fear or abuse in their home, their family and their community.

Sunday 15 June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD).

This is a global initiative that highlights the risks and realities of abuse faced by older people. WEAAD is also a call to action for the whole of community to take steps to build a safe and inclusive environment for older people.

The abuse of older people in Australia is a serious and growing social issue and can take many forms including neglect, financial exploitation, coercive control, physical or psychological abuse or intimidation.

Isolating older people from family or friends or making access to them conditional, controlling their money or assets, isolating people with language or mobility supports, not supporting an older person access a health service, are some examples of mistreatment of older people.

We all have a role in keeping older vulnerable people safe in Canberra.

We know from research that older people experiencing mistreatment from family members, carers, service providers or other people in their lives often do not recognize those behaviors as abuse, or seek help.

This WEAAD the Commission welcomes the rejuvenation of the ACT Elder Abuse Response Network as a way of raising awareness and strengthening new and existing networks to prevent the incidence of abuse, mistreatment or neglect of older persons in our community.

In Canberra the ACT Human Rights Commission can handle concerns about mistreatment of older people in any settings – we can assist the older person to address concerns raised, to stop the abuse from continuing and work collaboratively with parties to resolve issues and restore relationships.

Concerns can be raised with the ACT HRC by friends, family members, service providers or anyone who feels an older person is at risk of or experiencing mistreatment, harm, neglect or exploitation.

If you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of an older person in the ACT contact us for a confidential chat.