Elder abuse in Queensland has been exposed as a systemic failure requiring urgent and coordinated reform, with the final report of the state parliamentary inquiry affirming the seriousness, complexity and moral weight of the issue. Source: Brisbane Archdiocese.
Brisbane Archdiocese welcomed the report, saying it validates long-standing concerns raised by frontline services and community advocates about the risks faced by older people behind closed doors.
In a statement released yesterday, the archdiocese said the inquiry’s findings “echo what Centacare staff, parish communities and service providers see every day: elder abuse is often hidden, frequently occurs within trusted relationships, and is enabled by gaps in legal safeguards, fragmented services and social isolation”.
It said the report marked an “important turning point in recognising elder abuse not as an isolated problem, but as a failure of systems designed to protect dignity and autonomy in later life”.
“The Archdiocese of Brisbane welcomes the release of the Final Report and strongly supports its call for coordinated, system-wide reform to better protect older Queenslanders,” the statement said.
“The report reflects many of the recommendations made in the Archdiocese’s submission earlier this year, which drew on extensive frontline experience through Centacare and was grounded in principles of dignity, justice and care for the most vulnerable.
“The Archdiocese is particularly encouraged by the Inquiry’s focus on strengthening safeguards around Enduring Powers of Attorney, improving adult safeguarding arrangements, expanding access to specialist legal and support services, and investing in community education to address ageism and social isolation.
“These priorities closely align with the reforms proposed by the Archdiocese to address financial exploitation, coercive control and systemic gaps that leave many older people unprotected.”
The Inquiry explicitly referenced the Archdiocese of Brisbane’s submission in its consideration of Enduring Powers of Attorney, acknowledging the evidence of inadequate oversight and the risks of misuse within family and trusted relationships.
“The Archdiocese’s submission emphasised that elder abuse is not only a legal or service delivery issue, but a moral and ethical responsibility that reflects how society values older people,” the statement said.
“As Pope Francis has said, ‘the elderly are a wealth not to be ignored’. The Inquiry’s report affirms this perspective by recognising the importance of autonomy, respect and supported decision-making, rather than responses that rely solely on crisis intervention.”
FULL STORY
Queensland Elder Abuse Report reflects frontline warnings, Archdiocese says (Brisbane Archdiocese)
