The NSW Government has released new training resources aimed at helping frontline workers recognise and respond to abuse affecting older women and women with disability. The move comes during the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, with the NSW Government placing particular focus on groups who are often overlooked in national conversations about safety.
Data from the Ageing and Disability Commission shows a clear rise in reports. Nearly 19,000 concerns were lodged over a five-year period to June 2024, representing a marked increase and highlighting how often abuse goes unseen or unreported. The majority of the reports related to women, and the Commission notes that women with disability face higher rates of violence than the general population.
To support those working in health, disability, ageing and community services, the government has created a suite of free training modules. The materials cover recognising early warning signs, understanding harmful attitudes, documenting cases, planning for safety, responding to disclosures and navigating reporting pathways. They were developed jointly by the Ageing and Disability Commission and the NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner, with input from older women, women with disability and sector experts.
The state has also boosted its investment in the Commission, adding eight million dollars this year and lifting ongoing funding to 7.2 million dollars annually. The government argues this will help sustain investigative work and improve responses across the system, though advocacy groups continue to call for broader structural reforms, including improved long-term housing, specialist disability support and more stable workforce funding.
While ministers welcomed the new training, they also acknowledged the scale of the challenge. Officials pointed to the heightened risks faced by older women, with research showing higher exposure to financial abuse, coercion and violence, often from someone they know. Police data indicates that a large proportion of assaults involving older women are linked to a family member or trusted contact, contributing to under-reporting and reluctance to seek help.
Women’s safety advocates have welcomed the focus on practical support for frontline workers, noting they are often the first to notice changes in behaviour, living conditions or care arrangements. They say better tools could help workers feel more confident when raising concerns, particularly in situations where a victim may rely on the person causing harm for daily support or housing.
The government is positioning the resources as one part of a broader effort to improve early intervention. Observers say the test will lie in how widely the training is adopted, how consistently it is used across sectors and whether it leads to improved safety outcomes for women who face multiple layers of vulnerability.
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