We have a national crisis on our hands, and it’s going largely unrecognised.
This International Women’s Day, I’d like us to discuss a confronting topic – the murder of women over 55 by the men in their lives.
The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) confirmed there were 28 women over the age of 55 allegedly killed in domestic violence related homicides in 2023. That’s roughly a third of all alleged domestic violence homicides for that year.
Further, the ABS states that women are more likely than men to have experienced violence, emotional abuse, or economic control at the hands of their partner from the age of 15.
Yet, when older women are murdered by those closest to them, the media response is chillingly silent, as if their lives don’t matter.
The Ageing and Disability Commission’s latest quarterly data revealed women are disproportionately represented in their case numbers. During their October to December 2024 reporting period, the Commission received 707 reports relating to women, compared to 377 involving men.
This data reinforces what we already know – older women are at a significant disadvantage and subject to more abuse, discrimination and violence.
We know that older women are also likely to be at a financial disadvantage, have more housing uncertainty, and experience employment bias. Their vulnerability therefore magnified.
Abuse of older women can also be at the hands of their adult children. We know that 1 in 6 seniors are likely to experience abuse and violence from family members or carers, and this is also of grave concern.
Relationships Australia NSW offers specialised programs that assist. We provide our Women, Choice and Change group program for women who have experienced domestic violence at the hands of an intimate partner, and a counselling and mediation service called Let’s Talk for older people who are at risk of or experiencing high conflict or abuse at the hands of family members.
Both of these programs are supported by funding through the Department of Communities and Justice, although our Let’s Talk program funding ceases in August 2025. We look forward to the National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People and how together we can make relationships safer for older people, especially women who are most at risk.
As a community we are not good at talking about aging, and all its ramifications. Given our aging population, this is something we have to get much better at. Lives are at risk.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via www.1800RESPECT.org.au.