Sunday 15 June marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

We need to let this serve as a poignant reminder of the seriousness of this issue.  

Some 15 per cent of older people in Australia aged 65 and over are abused.

Even worse, if it could get any worse, one in two perpetrators will be a family member.

A new policy paper has raised on a blunt lack of support services for them.

Relationships Australia NSW (RANSW) has released a policy paper detailing 29 recommendations to drive abuse down and increase services to older people who suffer from it.

RANSW CEO Elisabeth Shaw said the current system is insufficient to protect older people and the NSW Government needs a strong response to the scale of the problem.

"Older people deserve dignity and safety, not abuse and neglect," Ms Shaw said.

"NSW has an ageing population and an increase in the incidence of psychological, financial, physical and other forms of harm to older people. 

"We need the abuse to stop, and we need to increase the accessibility of services for thousands of older people in this state who have found themselves in this situation.

Ms Shaw said it is known that the situation is dire, and experience together with statistics show the situation will likely get worse. 

“It is incredibly hard for older people to disclose harm at the hands of a family member,” she said.

Currently, the service system suffers from funding insecurity that creates a postcode lottery - meaning where you live greatly influences your chances of accessing support. Our own state funding ends in August 2025.

"That's why we have drafted a position paper which puts forward a set of 29 practical recommendations for the NSW Government to implement between now and 2030."

The policy paper was drafted with the input of nine organisations that work in the sector.

Some of the recommendations include that the NSW Government should maintain and expand regional and place-based approaches, such as through regional hubs, to address postcode injustice.

Introduce a module on identification and response to the abuse of older people into the NSW Police Academy training program.

Re-fund the Aged Crime Prevention Officer roles in the NSW Police, or identify alternative routes to ensure violence-informed and age-informed approaches at the first point of contact for the criminal legal system.

 Harmonise Enduring Power of Attorney laws and create a NSW Register of appointments.

Legislate mandatory training and funding to support Attorneys or Guardians appointed under an Appointment of Power of Attorney / Enduring Power of Attorney or Appointment of Enduring Guardian.

Explore the potential to mandate Elder Mediation for ageing-related family conflicts, in line with existing mandated mediation requirements for separating parents.

At the review date of the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022 in July 2026, consider the opportunity to criminalise coercive and controlling behaviour by family members other than an intimate partner.

Fund services for periods of at least five years, to improve providers' ability to attract, develop and retain experienced employees in critical front-line roles.