Introduction

Elderly clients may reside in approved residential facilities and or in the community in their own homes. When residing in an approved residential facility, the older Australian’s rights are protected by the Aged Care Act 1997. The Act specifies exact procedures to be followed when reportable incidents occur. 

Clients who are aged up to and including 18 years of age are deemed to be children and young people. 

Mandatory reporting laws in all Australian states specify those conditions under which an individual e.g. nurse, is legally required to make a report to the statutory child protection service in their jurisdiction. The maltreatment types that are mandatory to report cover physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, exposure to family violence dependent on the Australian state in which the abuse occurred. 

HHQ requires its nurses to have an understanding of the current legislation relating to mandatory of reporting whether they work directly with vulnerable groups or not, hence the introduction of this policy.

Mandatory Reporting of Abuse of the Elderly – Identifying and Reporting Abuse Objectives: 

• Provide a background to compulsory reporting in aged care. 
• To revise compulsory reporting requirements. 
• To understand what happens when a report is made. 
• To understand internal processes for reporting abuse.