About the research

The Australian Government, Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) has commissioned and funded the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) to undertake research on the abuse and mistreatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and/or asexual (LGBTIQA+) older people. AIFS has partnered with Queerspace, a division of Drummond Street services, to undertake this project and the research will be guided by an LGBTIQA+ lived experience advisory panel (LEAP).  

The key objectives of this research project will be to investigate and report on:  

• the indicative quantum and nature of abuse and mistreatment of LGBTIQA+ older people
• the forms that abuse takes in these contexts
• the characteristics of people experiencing and engaging in abuse and mistreatment in these contexts
• effects of abuse on LGBTIQA+ older people and their help seeking behaviours
• awareness about, and concerns of younger LGBTIQA+ people and any future plans they are making to prevent elder abuse and mistreatment
• services and support use, experience, or participant perceived need of services/supports.

The project aims to investigate abuse and mistreatment of LGBTIQA+ older people, including the nature and dynamics of this abuse and mistreatment, the characteristics of people experiencing or engaging in abuse and mistreatment in this context, the effects of abuse on the older LGBTIQA+ communities and any help seeking and actions.

The research project defines older people as 55 years+ or for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 50 years'. The research project aims to inform future policy development, research priorities and service delivery models.

Research components

AIFS, in partnership with Queerspace, and under guidance from the LEAP will undertake the following research activities for this mixed-method study:

• a desktop review that synthesises and summarises existing research and research underway on abuse and mistreatment of LGBTIQA+ older people
• a survey of LGBTIQA+ people aged 18 years+ (September to December 2024) to capture data about abuse and mistreatment of older LGBTIQA+ people and specifically its nature and dynamics, the characteristics of people experiencing or engaging in this abuse and mistreatment, its effects and any help seeking or protective actions taken by older people and their use of service responses – take the survey by clicking on the link in the Participant Information Sheet
• online focus groups with LGBTIQA+ older people to support an in depth understanding of the nature and dynamics of this abuse and mistreatment, its effects and what effective service responses look like from the perspectives of people in LGBTIQA+ groups (commencing mid-September 2024) – register to join a focus group by clicking on the link in the Participant Information Sheet
• interviews with LGBTIQA+ older people who have experienced abuse and/or mistreatment as an older person (commencing mid-September 2024). The aim of the interviews is to learn more about LGBTIQA+ peoples’ understanding of elder abuse, their experiences of it, their help seeking and protective actions, and what improvements can be made to interventions, services, training and supports – register your interest in participating in an interview by clicking on the link in the Participant Information Sheet.

If you would like more information about the project please contact the team or read the Participant Information Sheet.

Get involved

Take part in our survey by accessing the participant information sheet and scrolling down to 'Take the survey'

To be a part of our focus groups or interviews, please email the team

Download our stakeholder kit for use across your networks.