Support Services
If an older women tells you she has been sexually abused - the first step is to ensure she is safe from further sexual assault by the alleged perpetrator. It is also important to determine if the older woman requires medical attention. If urgent, contact ‘000’ (triple zero) and arrange attendance of an Ambulance or, if less urgent, arrange suitable medical treatment.
There are a range of services you can contact if an older woman experiences sexual abuse. On this page we list some of the services - please contact us if you have any additional services you would like to include - or amendments you think we need to make.
There are a range of services you can contact if an older woman experiences sexual abuse. On this page we list some of the services - please contact us if you have any additional services you would like to include - or amendments you think we need to make.
Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASA)
Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASA) provide services to older people who have experienced sexual abuse as an older person, or who are dealing with their experience of childhood sexual assault. CASAs can work with the person who has experienced the abuse (including residents in aged care facilities) as well as non offending family members. Many sexual assault services are also provide information, support and education to aged care service providers. Service providers who are concerned about a client can ring their local CASA for a consultation.
To find your local CASA, call the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service, which was established to assist people affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence to achieve recovery. The organisation provides a professional 24 hour telephone and online, crisis and trauma counselling service to anyone whose life has been impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence. Phone: 1800 737 732 or website: www.1800respect.org.au
To find your local CASA, call the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service, which was established to assist people affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence to achieve recovery. The organisation provides a professional 24 hour telephone and online, crisis and trauma counselling service to anyone whose life has been impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence. Phone: 1800 737 732 or website: www.1800respect.org.au
Police
In most states and territories there are specialist sexual assault squads that deal with crimes of sexual assault. If you need to contact the police about a sexual assault please look for information on your local sexual assault team. Some of the teams include:
- Victoria: There are 29 Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT), to find the one closet to you click here
- Western Australia: Sex Assault Squad can be contacted by Tel: (08) 9428 1600 or visit web by clicking here
- New South Wales: See the option to report sexual assault online by clicking here
Family Violence Services
There are Family Violence services in every state and territory that can help to make sure the older women is safe from further abuse. To find out about Family Violence Services in your local area Phone: 1800 737 732 or website: www.1800respect.org.au
Aged Care Advocacy Services
The Federal Government funds aged care advocacy agencies in each state and territory to provide free and confidential aged advocacy services to assist consumers of aged care services and other representatives who are acting on behalf of, or in the interests of, the older person. It is important to note that not all of these services have resources, information or skills related to preventing sexual abuse:
- Australian Capital Territory: ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service (ADACAS). Phone: (02) 6242 5060 or website: www.spirit.net.au/~adacas/
- New South Wales: The Aged-care Rights Service (TARS) . Phone: (02) 9281 3600 or website: www.tars.com.au
- Northern Territory: Aged & Disability Rights Team, Darwin Community Legal Service. Phone: (08) 8982 1111 or website: www.dcls.org.au/aged-disability.html
- Queensland: Queensland Aged and Disability Advocacy Inc. (QADA). Phone: (07) 3637 6000 or website: www.qada.org.au
- South Australia: Aged Rights Advocacy Service Inc. (ARAS) . Phone: (08) 8232 5377 or website: www.sa.agedrights.asn.au
- Tasmania: Advocacy Tasmanian Inc. Phone: (03) 6224 2240 or website: www.advocacytasmania.org.au
- Victoria: Seniors Rights Victoria is the primary, government-funded destination for older Victorians, their friends and family members seeking information and support relating to elder abuse. Phone: 1300 368 821 or Web site: www.seniorsrights.org.au
- Victoria: Elder Rights Advocacy (ERA). Phone: 1800 700 600 or website: www.era.asn.au
- Western Australia. AdvoCare. Phone: (08) 9479 7566 or website: www.advocare.org.au
Victims Assistance Program
Victims Assistance Programs may be able to assist in providing support that enables older women to improve their safety.
Compulsory reporting in residential aged care
The compulsory reporting of assaults is the responsibility of an approved aged care provider under the Aged Care Act. Assaults include 'unlawful sexual contact' which is any sexual contact, without consent that is unlawful under any Commonwealth, State or Territory Law.
Approved providers must report to the Department of Health and the police incidents of alleged or suspected reportable assaults within 24 hours of the allegation, or when the approved provider starts to suspect a reportable assault. They are also required to take reasonable measures to ensure staff members report any suspicions or allegations of reportable assaults to the approved provider (or other authorised person), to the police and the Department and to take reasonable measures to protect the identity of any staff member who makes a report and protect them from victimisation.
There are limited circumstances to reporting if the assault is perpetrated by a resident with an assessed cognitive impairment or mental impairment and subsequent reports of the same or similar incident have been made. For more information on compulsory reporting click the link here
Approved providers must report to the Department of Health and the police incidents of alleged or suspected reportable assaults within 24 hours of the allegation, or when the approved provider starts to suspect a reportable assault. They are also required to take reasonable measures to ensure staff members report any suspicions or allegations of reportable assaults to the approved provider (or other authorised person), to the police and the Department and to take reasonable measures to protect the identity of any staff member who makes a report and protect them from victimisation.
There are limited circumstances to reporting if the assault is perpetrated by a resident with an assessed cognitive impairment or mental impairment and subsequent reports of the same or similar incident have been made. For more information on compulsory reporting click the link here
Aged Care Complaints Commission
The Aged Care Complaints Commission is an independent body that resolves complaints about aged care and provides a free service for anyone to raise their concerns about the quality of care or services being delivered to people receiving aged care services funded by the Australian Government. Phone: 1800 550 553 or see the website by clicking here
(c) 2016 OPAL Institute, part of the Celebrate Ageing Program
