Why elder abuse is still being missed and what needs to change

The UTS Ageing Research Collaborative (UARC) held a Policy & Exchange Forum in November 2025 to focus on research gaps on elder abuse and the mistreatment of older people. The Forum brought together subject matter experts from government, law, peak body organisations, advocacy groups for older people from diverse backgrounds, researchers and academics.

A summary of the discussions, key insights and related reference material have been published in the UARC Law, Policy and Research Exchange Forum report on Elder Abuse and the Mistreatment of Older People, released in March 2026.

Discussions at the Forum were informed by the joint government Draft National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People 2024–2034.  The National Plan has now been finalised.

UARC’s Forum discussions provided a rich and nuanced understanding of sector needs, system pressures and areas for further research to drive evidence-based reform. 

Turning evidence into action

UARC’s transdisciplinary researchers identify evidence-based solutions to the issues facing older people and those providing aged care services. UARC connects its research with real-world issues to influence change in practice. By bringing together people working across law, policy and frontline services, the forum helped surface practical insights that can guide future research and public policy reforms.

“This work is about building awareness of the existing legislative arrangements that support older people, identifying problems with those arrangements, or lack thereof, and identification of gaps where further research can focus for greater impact” said Dr Teresa Somes, Co‑Lead of UARC’s Law, Regulation and Ethics theme.

View the UARC presentation from the forum.