New research into elder abuse in rural, remote communities begins

The Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department has commissioned universities and advocacy groups to conduct national research into elder abuse in regional, rural, and remote communities.

Published: 18 December 2025
  • national
  • 18 December 2025
  • Monash Universty

It has commissioned the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre together with colleagues from Edith Cowan and Sunshine Coast universities and the Older Person Advocacy Network (OPAN).

The purpose of the research project is to investigate:

  • The prevalence and forms of elder abuse in regional, rural, and remote Australia.

  • The challenges encountered by victim-survivors when help-seeking or responding to harm.

  • The challenges encountered by agencies working to support victim-survivors to respond to

    or prevent elder abuse.

  • The opportunities to enhance responses to and prevention of elder abuse.

The research will be undertaken in 4 phases:

  • a roundtable and literature review

  • a national online survey and interviews with advocates and practitioners

  • national interviews with victim-survivors

  • roadmapping workshops with key stakeholders and lived experience experts.

If you have any questions about the project, you can contact the research team on the dedicated project email: ElderAbuseStudy@monash.edu.