Qld’s elder abuse shame revealed: Record year for calls from victims

It’s one of the biggest issues across the country but Queensland evidently has a bigger problem than most states.

A record 2674 reports of abuse were made to the helpline, a rise of 0.8 per cent from the previous year. Picture: iStock

The opposition has hit out at the government for taking too long to act on elder abuse, in the wake of damning figures that revealed skyrocketing helpline calls made in the last financial year.

A staggering 4458 calls were made to the Elder Abuse Helpline last financial year - the highest number ever recorded in Queensland.

A report released jointly by the Queensland Government and Uniting Care has sounded the alarm on elder abuse and painted a grim picture of the growing crisis facing the state’s older population.

The Elder Abuse Statistics in Queensland Year in Review found a shocking 2674 reports of abuse were made to the helpline, a rise of 0.8 per cent from the previous year.

The alarming report has bolstered the state government’s decision to establish a parliamentary inquiry to examine the devastating consequences of elder abuse, fulfilling a key promise from its 100 Days Plan.

Shadow Treasurer and former minister for women and health Shannon Fentiman said a two year parliamentary inquiry to examine elder abuse was too far away for vulnerable Queenslanders.

“If we continue to see more vulnerable elderly Queenslanders coming forward, then the LNP government needs to immediately increase the funding to those services,” she said.

“You saw our government take nation leading action to criminalize coercive control, to change the laws, to make it easier to prosecute those people who prey on vulnerable elderly Queenslanders. We also significantly increased the funding to the organizations that support those people who come forward.”

It comes after Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Amanda Camm said the figures highlighted the failings of the former Labor government when it came to addressing elder abuse.

“The parliamentary inquiry will commence this year, and the initial committee meeting has been held where they will further determine the finalized terms of reference.”

Ms Camm said the timeframe for the inquiry was to report back to parliament in December 2025.

“Upon that end, noting those recommendations, it will provide a platform for us as a government to take action and to identify where those system responses need to be invested in to ensure safety across our community and particularly for our most vulnerable elderly people,” she said.

Ms Camm said one of her first actions as minister under the LNP’s 100 day plan was to instigate a parliamentary inquiry into elder abuse.

“We are a government that will identify system gaps, former failings of the Labor government that we need to address and some of the statistics outlined in this report, are actually significantly concerning.”

But Ms Fentiman said the work the Labor government had done on domestic and family violence and coercive control meant more elderly Queenslanders were coming forward to seek help.

“That’s a really positive thing, but we need to make sure the services are there for them when they come forward.

“The LNP have already signalled cuts to the DV sector with their DV review.

“I am really alarmed that they are laying the groundwork for more cuts.”

Shadow Health Minister Shannon Fentiman speaks to the media at Queensland Parliament, Brisbane, Sunday, January 5, 2025 - Picture: Richard Walker

Elder abuse takes many forms, with psychological abuse flagged in three-quarters (75.9 per cent) of calls made to the helpline.

More than two-thirds (65 per cent) of callers also claimed financial abuse.

Social abuse, a form of coercive control often used to hide or maintain other abuses, increased by seven per cent, while sexual abuse cases more than doubled from 0.5 to 1.1 per cent.

The data revealed women are disproportionately affected, with 67.1 per cent of victims female.

Shockingly, the majority of perpetrators (95 per cent) are sons or daughters, often living with the victim.

More than half of victims cohabited with their abuser.

The largest increases in calls came from outside of Brisbane, with Moreton Bay South recording a 29.7 per cent jump, while calls were up 27.4 per cent on the Sunshine Coast.

In contrast there was a 37.5 per cent drop in calls in Central Queensland.

The report also pointed to a worrying trend of cognitive impairment among victims, particularly dementia, affecting 10.8 per cent of cases, while perpetrators’ mental health issues and substance misuse featured in 17.9 per cent and 13.3 per cent of cases, respectively.

The inquiry will be part of broader reforms, including new residential care models and a review of domestic violence support service DVConnect

Ms Camm urged those suspecting elder abuse to report it via the Elder Abuse Helpline or online at www.qld.gov.au/stopelderabuse.

“We know six in 10 older people who experience abuse will likely not seek help from a professional source, but instead seek advice from family or friends,” she

said.

“This inquiry will help us better protect those who need it most.”

Originally published as Qld’s elder abuse shame revealed: Record year for calls from victims