All Australian Attorneys-General – excluding Tasmania’s which is in caretaker mode – have announced they will develop a national plan to combat elder abuse.
The Commonwealth Attorney-General’s office made the announcement today (February 20) coinciding with the 5th National Elder Abuse Conference being held in Sydney.
The Australian Law Reform Commission’s capstone recommendation for a National Plan recognised the need to develop strategies beyond legal reforms.
This presented the opportunity to develop national awareness and community education campaigns, provide training, establish elder abuse helplines and direct future research.
Planning for the initiative gets underway next month (March) when the working group – co-chaired by WA – meet to agree on an engagement strategy and a timetable for development.