Three assaults a day at aged care centres in Victoria

REPORTS of physical assaults and violent sexual attacks in Victoria’s aged-care centres have soared in recent years, with almost three cases a day across the state.

REPORTS of physical assaults and violent sexual attacks in Victoria’s aged-care centres have soared in recent years, with almost three cases a day across the state.

More than 1000 assaults were reported in aged care in the past financial year, a rise of almost two-thirds in six years. They included 882 serious physical assaults, 147 sexual ­assaults and seven violent ­sexual attacks.

Documents obtained by the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information laws set out the areas in the state with the worst records.

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Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt says the safety of aged-care residents is paramount. Picture: Kym Smith

Aged-care centres in and near Camberwell, Dandenong, Epping, Glenroy, Oak Park, Hadfield and Avondale Heights experienced the ­highest number of reported ­assaults in recent years.

Across the country, there were 4013 reported assaults on aged-care residents.

The shocking number of cases of abuse and neglect has prompted the federal government to establish a royal ­commission into the sector.

“The safety of aged-care residents is paramount,” said Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt. “The changes detailed in the FOI report further confirm our commitment to a royal commission.

“As the Prime Minister has said, if you want to deal with a problem you have to be fair dinkum about understanding the full extent of it. That is the point of holding a royal ­commission. It is not to pre-­determine outcomes.”

More than 1000 assaults were reported in aged care in the past financial year.

The 1037 reports of assaults in Victorian aged-care centres compared to 1434 in NSW, 750 in Queensland and 517 in South Australia.

In 2012-13, there were 648 reports of assault in Victorian aged-care centres.

Camberwell’s care homes for the elderly recorded the highest number of reported assaults last financial year, with 14 serious physical assaults and five sexual assaults. In the Geelong region, there were 11 serious physical assaults reported and two sexual assaults.

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