澳大利亚老年虐待幸存者和倡导者在2026年澳洲老年虐待大会上表示，解决老年虐待问题的关键在于社会态度的转变而非单纯的刑事化。[1]根据2021年联邦政府委托的研究，六分之一的65岁以上澳大利亚人在信任关系中经历虐待，但大多数受害者未报告此类情况。[1]
老年虐待行动澳大利亚组织主张转向预防和态度改变的策略，而非加强刑事处罚，指出现有立法使用率低且该领域资金严重不足。[1]澳洲首都地区于2021年成为澳大利亚首个制定针对"弱势"人群（包括60岁以上者）的虐待和忽视法律的司法管辖区，然而该立法实施后的最初几年未有刑事案件提出，尽管投诉数量达到数千起。[1]根据昆士兰老年虐待预防部门的数据，成年子女是老年虐待的最常见施虐者。[1]
与会者强调了受害者真实需求的重要性。老年虐待行动澳大利亚组织的Rebecca Edwards表示："需要改变的不是法律，而是态度。"[1]另一位倡导者Colette Bots指出："老年人不想要警察冲进门。他们想要的是支持。"[1]
Advocates for older Australians gathered at the 2026 Australian Elder Abuse Conference on the Gold Coast to push for systemic reform in how society addresses mistreatment of seniors.[1] According to a 2021 federally commissioned study, one in six Australians aged 65 and over experience abuse within trusted relationships, yet the vast majority of victims do not report the incidents.[1]
The debate over how to tackle elder abuse has divided experts on prevention strategy. Some advocates have called for elder abuse to be classified as a federal crime, but Elder Abuse Action Australia has advocated for a different approach, arguing that attitude change and prevention efforts should take priority over criminalisation alone.[1] The organisation pointed out that existing legislation has seen low usage rates and that funding in the field is severely inadequate.[1] Rebecca Edwards stated that "what needs to change is not the law, but attitudes."[1]
Evidence from jurisdictions that have already introduced elder abuse legislation reveals the challenges of enforcement. The Australian Capital Territory became Australia's first jurisdiction in 2021 to enact abuse and neglect laws protecting vulnerable people, including those over 60 years old.[1] However, in the initial years following implementation, no criminal cases were brought despite thousands of complaints being lodged.[1] According to Queensland's elder abuse prevention unit, adult children are the most common perpetrators of elder abuse.[1] Colette Bots emphasised this point, noting that "older people don't want police coming through the door. What they want is support."[1]