Most elder abuse is never reported. Older people stay silent because the person harming them is often the person they depend on: an adult child, a partner, a paid carer. They may fear losing contact with grandchildren, being moved into residential care, or getting someone they love into trouble. Some do not recognise what is happening as abuse at all.
That is why the obligation sits with you rather than with them. You are not required to be certain, to investigate, or to prove anything. You are required to notice, and to pass it on.
How this module works Read the content straight through. It takes most people around an hour. Then complete the quiz at the end. You need 80% to pass, and your certificate appears on screen immediately. The quiz is open book, there is no time limit, and you can reattempt as many times as you need.
This module may be difficult reading It describes harm to older people, including physical and sexual abuse and neglect. If you have experienced abuse yourself, or you are supporting someone who has, take breaks and use your employee assistance program if you have one. If you need to talk to someone outside your workplace, the national elder abuse phone line is 1800 ELDERHelp (1800 353 374), which redirects to the service in your state or territory.
Currency statement This module reflects the law as at July 2026. The Aged Care Act 2024 commenced on 1 November 2025, replacing the Aged Care Act 1997. The strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards applied from the same date, and the Serious Incident Response Scheme, which has covered in-home aged care since 1 December 2022, continued under the new Support at Home program. Where this module states a legal requirement, follow the link in Primary Sources to confirm the current position. Your provider's own incident policy sits on top of these obligations: follow it, and raise any conflict with your supervisor.