Frameworks for change

Strategies to prevent the sexual abuse of older women intersect with a number of existing frameworks in Australia. This includes frameworks for prevention of elder abuse, violence against women and family violence. In the following section these frameworks are presented.

Australian Law Reform Commision 

The Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC announced an Inquiry for the ALRC on 'Protecting the Rights of Older Australians from Abuse' on 24 February 2016. The ALRC released an Issues Paper on 15 June 2016 and called for submissions from the public. A submission on sexual abuse was submitted by The OPAL Institute (click link here). The ALRC released a Discussion Paper in December 2016 with proposals for reform. Submissions closed on 27 February 2017. The Report, Elder Abuse—A National Legal Response (ALRC Report 131), was tabled on 14 June 2017.

Strategy for preventing sexual abuse of older women, Victoria

A project led by Council on the Ageing Victoria, Senior's Rights Victoria and ARCSHS at La Trobe University on preventing sexual assault of older women included the development of a Victoria-wide strategy to prevent the sexual abuse. The project was supported by the Grosvenor Foundation and the Victorian Women’s Benevolent Trust.  Copy of the strategy here.

Elder Abuse Community Action Plan, Victoria 

The National Ageing Research Institute worked in partnership with Seniors Rights Victoria and the Elder Abuse Roundtable members (representatives from advocacy, legal, research, aged and health care service providers and the Office of the Public Advocate) to develop an action plan on preventing Elder Abuse in Victoria. Copy of the report here.

Royal Commission into Family Violence, Victoria 

In 2015 a Royal Commission into Family Violence in Victoria was announced. The Commission's report was delivered in 2016 and includes a number of references to sexual violence. See report here

Any other frameworks?

If you know of any other frameworks please let us know.