Elder Abuse and the Mistreatment of Older People

Elder abuse affects 1 in 6 older Western Australians and may involve many different forms of abuse. The WA Strategy to Respond to the Abuse of Older People (Elder Abuse) is a 10-year strategy to address all forms, reduce its incidence and encourage whole-of-community involvement.
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Elder abuse affects many older Western Australians and may involve financial, social, physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse. 

On 18 November 2019, Communities released Western Australia’s first ever strategy into elder abuse: The WA Strategy to Respond to the Abuse of Older People (Elder Abuse). This 10-year strategy is a blueprint for the priorities, actions and outcomes required to effectively prevent and respond to the abuse of older people.

The Elder Abuse Strategy includes four priority areas: raising awareness and early identification; prevention and early intervention; integrated and coordinated response; and data and evidence.

All Western Australians have a role to play in preventing the abuse of older people, so we encourage you to get involved. Start by being fully informed: download the Elder Abuse Strategy below. Together, we can stop elder abuse!

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2024

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is commemorated on 15 June each year. On this day people are encouraged to make a united stand against all forms of abuse against older people in our global communities.

In addition to our commitment to reduce elder abuse in Western Australia through the Elder Abuse Strategy, Communities works in partnership with key stakeholders each year to recognise and promote WEAAD as well as encouraging people to wear purple (the symbolic colour of WEAAD) to show their support.

Visit our WEAAD 2024 page

Register your WEAAD 2024 event

Information about the WEAAD Regional Grants program 2024 is available on our WEAAD 2024 page.

The Purple Road Project

The Purple Road Project shines a light on deeply personal and collective experiences of elder abuse in WA. 

The Purple Road Project shines a light on deeply personal and collective experiences of elder abuse in WA. 

Please see the Purple Road Project for more information.

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