Royal Commission into Aged Care
The Australian Government is currently calling for submissions on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into Aged Care
- We have long known that sexual abuse of older women is a problem in residential aged care
- The research report from Norma’s Project documents numerous cases of sexual assault in aged care
- The Department of Health also makes public reportable assaults in residential aged care and for the 2016-2017 period there were 390 reports of alleged or suspected unlawful contact
Despite this evidence - there are no strategies at state or national level to prevent sexual abuse of older women
- Older women continue to report they feel silenced - and many elect not to report
- Old age is not a proactive factor against sexual abuse
- This problem must be acknowledged in the Royal Commission so that strategies can be put in place to prevent it
If you know an older woman who has experienced sexual abuse in residential aged care, or you are concerned about this issue - please consider a submission to the Royal Commission’s call for information to shape their Terms of Reference
The survey is brief and your support will make a difference
Link to the Royal Commission’s survey: https://consultations.health.gov.au/aged-care-policy-and-regulation/terms-of-reference/consultation/subpage.2018-06-26.4891238849/
Norma’s project: https://www.opalinstitute.org/uploads/1/5/3/9/15399992/researchreport.pdf
Data from Dept: https://www.opalinstitute.org/compulsory-reporting.html