Health Minister Stephen Wade to set up Adult Safeguarding Unit to fight elder abuse

A SPECIAL unit — the first of its kind in Australia — will be set up to protect adult and elderly South Australians vulnerable to abuse or neglect.

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AN Adult Safeguarding Unit — the first of its kind in Australia — will be set up to protect adult and elderly South Australians vulnerable to abuse or neglect.

The unit, prompted by the Oakden nursing home scandal, will make it easier for members of the public to report concerns to authorities.

The unit, expected to begin operating next year, will have the power to investigate and request information from government and non-government organisations.

Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade will put legislation to Parliament tomorrow to set up the unit “in direct response to issues identified in the Oakden Older Persons Mental Health Service”.

Inquiries by the Chief Psychiatrist and Independent Commission Against Corruption found evidence of systemic mistreatment of elderly residents at the now-closed facility in Adelaide’s north.

Family members of abused former Oakden residents are now seeking compensation from the government.

“We have seen some of the worst cases of abuse in vulnerable people and we never want to see that repeated,” Mr Wade said.

He noted that vulnerable adults “may feel uncomfortable contacting the police regarding matters that involve their family or friends” so they could instead turn to the unit.

Health Minister Stephen Wade. Picture: David Mariuz

Adults who were sound of mind would be able to refuse unwanted intervention by the unit in a case involving them, if they wished, he added.

The unit is expected to comprise eight staff including social workers, investigators and an education officer.

Stewart Johnston, whose mother Helen was assaulted at Oakden, welcomed a dedicated unit with “the ability to act with independence and urgency”.

He hoped staff would “understand and hear” concerns and those raising them would “not just be fobbed off to other agencies where their concerns seem to fall on deaf ears at times like ours did with Oakden.”

“This … allows South Australia to regain some ground on the treatment of vulnerable people in our community that’s been sadly lacking with extreme outcomes in the past,” he said.

Mr Wade said the new unit would work closely with SA Police “to minimise harm through early intervention, multiagency co-ordination and information-sharing”.

It will also make it easier to escalate a case of serious concern to be dealt with by senior authorities.

The Liberal Party promised the change ahead of the March state election.

The Bill before Parliament will also change the name of the Office for the Ageing to the Office for Ageing Well.