THE NEED FOR AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL LAW REFORM TO PROTECT ELDERLY AUSTRALIANS AGAINST ABUSE
Dublin Core
Title
THE NEED FOR AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL LAW REFORM TO PROTECT ELDERLY AUSTRALIANS AGAINST ABUSE
Description
The Australian Bureau of Statistics have reported that Australia’s population is ageing at
an incremental rate, and a recent National Prevalence Study into elder abuse found that a
significant proportion of those older Australians are experiencing abuse. While it is
important to recognise that older people are not inherently vulnerable, it is equally
important to acknowledge the fact that many instances of abuse are falling through the
cracks. Older people with distinct vulnerabilities, are at particular risk, and it is the right
of every older Australian to age with dignity, respect, and to be afforded adequate protection
from abuse. Despite the existence of criminal laws applicable to abuses including physical,
social, psychological, and financial, very few matters relating to abuse of older people are
prosecuted.
This paper provides an overview of the legal framework in which abuse of older adults
currently operates in Australia. It proposes that discrete criminal offences should be
introduced to protect older adults who are reliant on others for their care, and who have a
distinct vulnerability.
an incremental rate, and a recent National Prevalence Study into elder abuse found that a
significant proportion of those older Australians are experiencing abuse. While it is
important to recognise that older people are not inherently vulnerable, it is equally
important to acknowledge the fact that many instances of abuse are falling through the
cracks. Older people with distinct vulnerabilities, are at particular risk, and it is the right
of every older Australian to age with dignity, respect, and to be afforded adequate protection
from abuse. Despite the existence of criminal laws applicable to abuses including physical,
social, psychological, and financial, very few matters relating to abuse of older people are
prosecuted.
This paper provides an overview of the legal framework in which abuse of older adults
currently operates in Australia. It proposes that discrete criminal offences should be
introduced to protect older adults who are reliant on others for their care, and who have a
distinct vulnerability.
Creator
Hutchens, Vanessa
Source
University of South Australia Law Review; Vol. 4 No. 1 (2022): University of South Australia Law Review
2206-1398
Publisher
University of South Australia
Date
2022-07-01
Rights
Copyright (c) 2022 University of South Australia Law Review
Relation
Format
application/pdf
Language
eng
Type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Identifier
Collection
Citation
Vanessa Hutchens, THE NEED FOR AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL LAW REFORM TO PROTECT ELDERLY AUSTRALIANS AGAINST ABUSE, University of South Australia, 2022, accessed December 3, 2024, https://igi.indrastra.com/items/show/3115