SA Police and elder abuse

A priority for SA Police

South Australia Police (SAPOL) is tackling elder abuse by working with other agencies and focusing on prevention, early intervention and centring the person experiencing the abuse.

Committed to protecting older South Australians, SAPOL recognises elder abuse as a significant issue with serious personal and community impacts. The force’s approach is based on:

• responding promptly and compassionately to reports of elder abuse

• collaborating with specialised government agencies and community organisations, so that the response is centred on the person experiencing the abuse

• providing its police officers with appropriate training, so they can recognise and understand elder abuse and work with specialist services and advocacy networks

• supporting people who experience elder abuse through the justice system and referral pathways.

South Australia Police wants all South Australians who are experiencing elder abuse – or suspect someone they know is – to report what’s happening and receive compassionate, prompt support.

How SAPOL works against elder abuse

Several departments within South Australia Police support its person-centred response to reports of elder abuse:

• The Elder Abuse Portfolio, with the Family and Domestic Violence Service and Policy and Programs Branch, oversees SAPOL’s response strategy, including research, policy and program development.

• The Victim Management team conducts specialised interviews when the abused person has cognitive or communication difficulties.

• The Child and Family Investigation sections work with regional Criminal Investigation branches and Family Violence Intervention Officers to provide a whole-of-family response that protects victims of crime while holding offenders accountable.

In mid-2025, SAPOL launched a 24-hour helpline with Dementia Support Australia to support officers responding to incidents that involve people living with dementia. A specialised training module on dementia awareness also equips police officers to recognise any signs of cognitive impairment and appropriately adjust their approach when they respond to an incident.

Collaboration with government and community agencies

Working with other organisations is an important part of SAPOL’s response strategy, because elder abuse is a complex matter. Situations may involve other issues such as mental and physical health, cognitive decline, social isolation, financial hardship, domestic violence or relationships of dependence.

Coordinating assistance and sharing knowledge with other government and community agencies means that SAPOL can respond quickly to reports of elder abuse and make support referrals that are appropriate.

South Australia Police’s partner organisations include:

• the Adult Safeguarding Unit, a state government agency that receives and responds to reports concerning vulnerable adults, including older people experiencing abuse or mistreatment

• the Office of the Public Advocate

• the Aged Rights Advocacy Service, which assists older South Australians with aged care and human rights

• Uniting Communities, a not-for-profit organisation helping people move forward from challenges

• the NDIS After Hours Referral Service.

If older people have experienced fraud, scams, identity crime and other cybercrimes, SAPOL can refer them to IDCARE, Australian’s national identity and cyber support service.

State legislation around elder abuse

South Australian law doesn’t recognise a single offence of ‘elder abuse’, but other offences (such as assault, fraud, sexual assault, domestic abuse and criminal neglect) can be used to charge someone who abuses an older person.

The Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA) includes rules for tougher penalties for ‘aggravated offences’ – when someone takes advantage of an older or vulnerable person. For example, Section 5AA(1)(f) says it’s an aggravated offence  if ‘the offender committed the offence knowing that the victim of the offence was, at the time of the offence, over the age of 60 years’.

Where to get help

In an emergency, always call 000.

• SA Police Assistance Line 131 444

• Adult Safeguarding Unit 1800 372 310

• Aged Rights Advocacy Service 1800 700 600

• Uniting Communities Elder Abuse Unit (08) 8342 1800