This study was commissioned by the Western Australian Department of Communities as a component of the WA Strategy to Respond to the Abuse of Older People (Elder Abuse) 2019- 2029 (Elder Abuse Strategy). The Elder Abuse Strategy is a 10-year whole of government plan that aims to prevent and respond to the abuse of older people throughout Western Australia.

This study has sought to build on and update existing research and knowledge, as well as to identify gaps in policy and practice and in data and evidence, that are relevant to the Western Australian context. Recognising that this is a complex issue that defies simple, narrow definitions and approaches, the core research objectives framing this study are to:

• better understand the types of abuse experienced by older people in Western Australia
• map agency and service provider responses and referral pathways to understand the ‘service journey’ of older people experiencing or at risk of abuse
• explore best practice recommendations that are suited to Western Australian conditions, taking account of existing resources develop a clearer understanding of the distinctive experiences and needs of older people. This includes people living in regional, rural, and remote Western Australia but also diverse populations, including CALD and LGBTIQ+ older people, who are known to have unique needs and experiences, lower rates of service access and who may be at greater risk of abuse.

This is the first study conducted in a Western Australian context, that consults such a wide variety of participants from a range of sectors including advocacy, aged care, community organisations, counselling, financial services, guardianship, health, legal services, local government, mediation, and police.

The findings present original insights into how professionals working in these sectors respond to cases of abuse and suspected cases of abuse of older people. The experiences and perspectives reported here include the views of elder abuse specialists, but also, importantly, the views of people without specialist elder abuse knowledge and training who nonetheless encounter older people during their everyday work or volunteering roles.