Elder abuse - Information and services

Where you can find assistance

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission - Complaints

Complaints can be lodged in the following way:

  • Telephone: 1800 951 822 between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm weekdays, or leave a phone message.
  • Letter:
    Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
    GPO Box 9819, Adelaide SA 5001
  • Online:
    Submit a complaint through the Online Complaints Form. You will receive a response during business hours within 24 to 48 hours after your complaint has been received.

Website: Australian Government - Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission 

A free confidential service available to anyone wanting to make a complaint about the quality of care or services they or someone they know is receiving from Australian Government subsidised aged care providers of residential care and community care programs (Home Care Packages and Commonwealth Home Support Programme). The Aged Care Safety and Quality Commission can be contacted if abuse or mistreatment of older person receiving a service is suspected.

Aged Rights Advocacy Service

Office hours: Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 pm
Phone: (08) 8232 5377 or 1800 700 600 (Toll Free for SA country)
Fax: (08) 8232 1794
Email: aras@agedrights.asn.au
Location: 175 Fullarton Road, Dulwich SA 5065
Postal address: 175 Fullarton Road, Dulwich SA 5065

Website: Aged Rights Advocacy Service SA

A free and confidential service for older people or their representatives (with the older person’s permission) who:

  • receive services or care from an Australian Government subsidised aged care provider of residential care and/ or community care programs (Home Care Packages and Commonwealth HACC services)
  • are at risk of, or are being abused by someone they should be able to trust.

Aged Rights Advocacy Service can:

  • provide information about rights and entitlements
  • support you to resolve your concerns or to speak on your behalf
  • offer strategies to protect yourself
  • ensure your wishes are listened to and respected.

Carers SA

Office hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday
Telephone: (08) 8291 5600 or 1800 242 636 (free call)
Fax: (08) 8271 6388
Location: 66 Greenhill Road Wayville SA 5034 
Postal address: GPO Box 410 Unley SA 5061
Email: info@carers-sa.asn.au
Website: Carers SA

Provides information and resources, advice, education and training for carers and people working with carers.

Supports carers to access support networks, respite services and a range of programs to help them keep active and connected.

Provides support to carers who may be at risk of elder abuse, and those who are managing the finances of someone they care for.

Find out more from the resources for carers below, produced by Carers SA.

Dementia Australia, South Australia

Office hours: 9.00 to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday
Telephone: (08) 8372 2100
Fax: (08) 8338 3390
Email: sa.admin@alzheimers.org.au
National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500
Location: 27 Conyngham Street Glenside
Website: Dementia Australia website

Provides information, resources, counselling and support, free programs and workshops across South Australia for people diagnosed with dementia, and their families and carers.

Offers evidence based training for Health Care professionals and Carers working with people living with dementia.

Elder Mediation Australasian Network (EMAN)

Chair, EMAN Executive Committee’s email address: Dale.Bagshaw@unisa.edu.au.

For information about elder mediation services, visit the Elder Mediation Australasia Network website for:

  • contact details and services of elder mediation professionals and others who are members of EMAN
  • links to publications, conferences and other events and to relevant resources (books, articles, research, reports), services and websites.

Elder mediation can assist older people, their families and significant others with difficult conversations, to make plans and to reach outcomes to disagreements – outcomes that work for the older persons, respect their rights and enhance their safety.

EMAN is a network of professionals dedicated to:

  • raising awareness and building knowledge about elder mediation in the community
  • developing professional ethics, standards and certification for elder mediators
  • encouraging referrals to relevant services, including mediation and other services tailored to the circumstances of older people (our elders) in Australasia.

Legal Services Commission of South Australia

Phone: (08) 8111 5555
Fax: (08) 8111 5599
Legal Help Line Service Phone: 1300 366 424 (9.00 am to 4.30 pm) Monday to Friday
Location: 159 Gawler Place Adelaide
Postal address: GPO Box 1718 Adelaide SA 5001
Website: Legal Services Commission of South Australia

Provides a range of legal information and advice through the Legal Help Line, interviews by appointment, and community education initiatives.

The Legal Help Line provides a free and confidential telephone advice service which is open to all South Australians seeking preliminary legal information, advice and referral.

Office of the Public Advocate (OPA)

Office hours: Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Phone: (08) 8342 8200 or 1800 066 969 (Toll free for SA country)
Fax: (08) 8342 8250
Email: opasa@opa.sa.gov.au
Location: Level 8, Chesser House, 95 Grenfell Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Postal address: GPO Box 464, Adelaide SA 5001
Website: Office of the Public Advocate (OPA)

Provides information, advice or assistance about matters related to current legislation including:

  • Advance Care Directives Act, 2013
  • Guardianship & Administration Act, 1993
  • Mental Health Act, 1993
  • Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Act, 1995
  • Enduring Powers of Attorney.

The Public Advocate is the Guardian of Last Resort and provides systemic and some individual advocacy to people with impaired mental capacity and their carers. The Office of the Public Advocate has a Dispute Resolution Service which offers a mediation service to assist in the resolution of disputes about Advance Care Directives and health consent issues.

Public Trustee

Office hours: Monday to Friday 8.45 am to 5.00 pm
Telephone: (08) 8226 9200 or 1800 673 119 211 (toll free)
Fax: (08) 8226 9350
Email: pt.enquiries@sa.gov.au
Location: 211 Victoria Square, Adelaide
Postal address: PO Box 1338 Adelaide SA 5001
Website: Public Trustee

Provides trustee services for a range of people in the community including those most vulnerable requiring Financial Administration Orders.

The Public Trustee can act as a trustee, executor of a will, administrator of an estate (whether or not of a deceased person), manager, receiver, committee, curator, guardian, next friend, agent, attorney or stakeholder.

SA Police

Telephone:

  • Emergencies: 000 
  • Non-urgent police assistance: 131 444. For example reporting a crime that has already happened or making general police related enquiries.

Website: South Australia Police

Responds to and investigates reports of domestic abuse and gives the highest priority to the protection of victims.

Provides support and information to victims and their families to ensure their ongoing safety.

Provides referrals to external service providers and shares information, where appropriate, to ensure the best outcome for victims and their families.

Home Assist Program

SAPOL Home Assist Program Coordinator telephone: (08) 7322 3211
Website: SA Police Home Assist Program

SAPOL Home Assist program provides free home security audits for:

  • HACC eligible persons aged over 65
  • Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders aged over 50
  • Persons living with a disability and their carers.

Home Assist Coordinators also provide referrals and advocacy to link older persons suspected of being abused or who are being abused, to the appropriate reporting and support agencies.

Provides free safety and security fact sheets on a range of topics including home security, public transport and driving safely and nuisance callers.

Internet Safety and Awareness

Website: SA Police Internet Safety and Awareness

SA Police presents Internet Safety and Awareness lectures through the WEA, providing seniors with information to help them avoid falling victim to financial abuse. Topics include:

  • recognising secure sites
  • online scams
  • internet auctions
  • internet safety
  • shopping online.

South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

Office hours: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday
Telephone: 1800 723 767
Email: sacat@sacat.sa.gov.au 
After hours: Urgent calls about guardianship, mental health and administration cases, contact the Office of the Public Advocate.
Locations:

  • Level 4, 100 Pirie Street Adelaide
  • Level 8, Chesser House, 95 Grenfell Street, Adelaide

Postal address: GPO Box 2361 Adelaide SA 5001
Website: South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

The South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) is a state tribunal that helps people in South Australia to resolve issues within specific areas of law, either through agreement at a conference, conciliation or mediation, or through a decision of the Tribunal at hearing. SACAT also conducts reviews of Government decisions.

The Tribunal operates across the state of South Australia and is a key part of the state justice system.

Specifically, SACAT is the place to bring

  • certain civil law disputes or applications, such as those that relate to landlord / tenant relationships, guardianship and administration, mental health and consent to treatment and advance care directives
  • administrative law disputes or issues, such as requests for reviews of certain Government decisions such as certain public or community housing decisions, or land valuation decisions.

You can contact SACAT about

  • whether you can bring your issue or dispute to SACAT
  • queries about processing your case
  • your upcoming hearing, mediation or conciliation
  • queries about access and / or advice to us about your special needs.

SACAT cannot provide legal advice. This includes advice on whether it is a good idea to bring an issue to SACAT or the chances of success of a particular approach. Organisations that may be able to help you with legal advice or with other support and assistance include:

  • Consumer and Business Services
  • Legal Services Commission
  • Office of the Public Advocate (for cases about guardianship and mental health)
  • support and advocacy organisations.

Translation services

If you require an interpreter: The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) can be called on 131 450. Ask them to put you through to the number of the service that you need.

Website: Relay Service

Depending on your particular needs, you can choose one of the following relay call options.

  • TTY users phone: 133 677 then ask for the number of the service
  • Speak and Listen users: 1300 555 727 then ask for the number of the service
  • Internet relay users: Connect to the National Relay Service and search for the number of the service that you need.

Some services are able to contact TIS and arrange an interpreter on your behalf. If you are deaf, have a hearing or speech impairment there are various ways to contact the National Relay Service which can then connect you to the service that you need.

Uniting Communities Elder Abuse Unit

Email: elderabuseunit@unitingcommunities.org
Telephone: (08) 8342 1800
Location: 43 Franklin Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Website: Uniting Communities Elder Abuse Unit

The Elder Abuse Unit provides information, support and legal advice to people who have been impacted by elder abuse. This free service is funded by the Federal Government and is available to people aged 65 years and over, living in metropolitan Adelaide.

Victim Support Service (VSS)

Email: helpdesk@victimsa.org
Telephone: 1800 842 846
Location: 33 Franklin Street, Adelaide SA 5001
Website: Victim Support Service

Victim Support Service (VSS) is a state-wide service across South Australia. Our free and confidential services provide therapeutic counselling and practical support to victims and survivors of crime and abuse. The VSS also assists women who are at risk of homelessness because of family and domestic abuse through the Staying Home, Staying Safe program.

Services for people of diverse backgrounds

Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement

Office hours: 09.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday
Location: 321-325 King William Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Telephone: (08) 8113 3777 or 1800 643 222 (freecall)
Fax: (08) 8211 7618
Email:  info@alrm.org.au
Website: Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement

ALRM's major aim is to advance the legal interests of Aboriginal people in South Australia and to ensure that those interests and rights are protected by the law and not adversely affected by abuse or misuse of any powers under the law.

Ethnic Link Services

Office hours: 9.00 to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday
Telephone: (08) 8241 0201; country callers 1800 648 598 (freecall).

Fax: (08) 8241 0280
Email: els@ucwpa.org.au
Location: Corner of Glebe St and Port Road Alberton
Postal address: GPO Box 3032 Port Adelaide SA 5015
Website: Uniting Care Wesley Port Adelaide Inc

Parent body: UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide Inc.

Eligibility: Frail aged and their carers of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Referrals: Phone (08) 8241 0201 or download a referral form and forward through fax or email. Referrals can be self-referrals, made by family, friends, service providers or ethnic communities. 

Ethnic Link Services is a statewide community service that assists access of older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds  to information, supports and services to help them  remain living in their own home.

Ethnic Link Services can visit people in their own home and support them in their own language. 

Interpreting and Translating Centre

Telephone: 1800 280 203 toll free
Fax: (08) 8226 1992
Email: itc@sa.gov.au
Location: Level 4, 44 Pirie Street Adelaide
Postal address: GPO Box 292 Adelaide SA 5001
Website: Interpreting and Translating Centre

The Interpreting and Translating Centre (ITC) provides comprehensive, high quality, efficient, confidential and professional interpreting and translating services.

Refugee Health Service

Office hours: 9.00 to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday
Telephone: (08) 8237 3900; country callers 1800 635 566
Fax: (08) 8237 3949
Location: 21 Market St Adelaide, SA 5000
Website: SA Health - Refugee Health Service

Eligibility: Recently arrived humanitarian refugees and asylum seekers with multiple and complex health needs. Appointment necessary for medical clinic, counselling and visiting services

Services provided:

  • medical care - assessments and initial primary care for newly arrived refugees
  • specialist medical and allied health assessment and support - for refugees and asylum seekers with complex needs
  • nurse-led clinics - including well women, immunisation, daily drop in
  • counselling
  • health information - including health education
  • visiting services - including paediatric and optometry.

Australian Migrant Resource Centre

Office hours: 9.00 to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday
Telephone: (08) 8217 9500
Fax: (08) 8217 9556
Email: admin@amrc.org.au
Location: 23 Coglin Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Website: Australian Migrant Resource Centre

An independent, non-government, leading settlement agency servicing all of South Australia.

It supports the effective settlement and participation of people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, as they settle into their new Australian community.

By assisting to build community, AMRC supports new arrivals and their new and establishing groups and communities to engage with and contribute effectively to South Australia’s society, culture, economy and environment.

Multicultural Affairs 

Office hours: 8.45 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday
Telephone: (08) 8429 5961 or (08) 8429 5952
Email: MulticulturalAffairs@sa.gov.au
Location: State Administration Centre, 200 Victoria Square, Adelaide SA 5000
Postal: GPO Box 2343, Adelaide SA 5001
Website: Multicultural Affairs 

Multicultural Affairs provides advice to the state government and works to achieve an inclusive, cohesive and equitable multicultural society, where all our communities are valued and supported, so that they can become full participants in our society.

A comprehensive list of services available to migrants to help meet their needs can be accessed on the Multicultural Affairs website. 

Multicultural Communities Council of SA (MCCSA)

Telephone: (08) 8345 5266
Email: mccsa@mccsa.org.au
Location: 113 Gilbert Street, Adelaide
Website: Multicultural Communities Council of SA

MCCSA supports and advocates for all people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to realise their potential as active contributors to the economic, social and cultural life of South Australia.

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