Department of Health

Elder Abuse Prevention – online training

This online training courseExternal Link takes 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, is free and is aimed at anyone working with older people or is interested in learning more about elder abuse.

With respect to age – 2009 guidelines

With respect to age – 2009 is the Victorian Government’s practice guidelines for health services and community agencies for the prevention of elder abuse. Elder abuse is a complex social issue with unique dynamics that require tailored responses.

The guidelines have broad multi-sector and multi-discipline application, helping managers, workers and practitioners in health services and community agencies.

As a practical tool, the guidelines:

  • suggest how to develop or review service or agency policies and procedures to respond to suspicion or allegation of elder abuse
  • support the development or review of local inter-agency elder abuse protocols enabling cooperation between organisations responding to such cases
  • provide resources to strengthen services’ response capacity.

Who should use the guidelines?

With respect to age – 2009 target workers supporting older people in health services such as hospitals (including emergency departments) and rehabilitation, sub acute and community health services (including nursing, allied health and counselling services) provided in the home and other community settings.

They also target community agencies such as local government, Victoria Police, not-for-profit organisations and private organisations.

The guidelines are available to download from this page. To obtain a hard copy, please email elder.abuse@dhhs.vic.gov.au with your request.

Reviewed 18 June 2018

Health.vic

Contact details

For enquiries about the Victorian Government's Elder Abuse Prevention and Response Initiative

Elder Abuse Prevention and Response Initiative Department of Health and Human Services

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