Community Legal Service Workers

What frontline workers need to know
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Content warning:
This passage includes sensitive content about sexual violence and may be triggering for some readers.

This resource is related to the Frontline Voices article: Community legal service worker

1. Consent and sexual activity are hard to assess in Aged Care

Dementia and cognitive decline can make it very difficult to determine consent.

Staff frequently struggle to know whether interactions are consensual or abusive.
Some staff view sexual behaviour between residents as “cute” or harmless, while others see it as inappropriate or potentially assaultive.
Conflicting staff attitudes create confusion and risk.

Implication for frontline workers:

You must not assume sexual activity is consensual because it looks affectionate — capacity and communication must be considered.

2. Staff in Aged Care are under-resourced and under-trained

Many staff have English as a second language.

Facilities rarely free staff up to attend training; most have to do it in their own time.
There is no overlap between shifts for handover or reflective discussions.
Rights-based and trauma-informed training often isn’t prioritised due to costs and staffing pressures.

Implication for frontline workers:

Lack of training and structural support increases the risk that sexual assault is missed, misunderstood, minimised, or mishandled.

3. Sexuality in older age is taboo — especially for women

Older women often find it difficult or shameful to talk about sexual matters.

They may use euphemisms such as “interfered with” rather than naming sexual assault.

Many people wrongly believe that violence must involve physical force (“a bit of biffo”) to be real. 

Implication for frontline workers:

Use gentle, accessible language, and avoid direct or confrontational questioning.

Ask about discomfort, not “assault,” to help women feel safe to speak.

4. Ageism shapes responses — and increases risk

Some staff believe older women are “not desirable,” reinforcing the myth that older women are not targets of sexual assault.
Staff may laugh off inappropriate sexual behaviour (e.g., “horny old men pinching bottoms”), creating an unsafe environment.
Older adults are often not monitored for signs of distress or behavioural change because staff assume it’s “just old age” or depression.

Implication for frontline workers:

You must actively challenge ageist assumptions and treat inappropriate sexual behaviour with the same seriousness as you would in any other population.

5. Older women may not disclose due to shame and fear

Older women worry about being seen as complainers (“nobody likes a whinger”).
Many feel invisible or disregarded and fear they won’t be believed.
They also fear consequences for themselves or other residents if they speak up.

Implication for frontline workers:

Expect hesitation, shame, and silence.

It takes significant trust-building before disclosure happens.

6. Trauma histories are common — and affect care needs

Many older women have experienced violence earlier in life (as children or adults).
Bathing, showering, or intimate care can trigger distress or memories.
Trauma may surface unexpectedly or be misinterpreted as confusion or agitation.

Implication for frontline workers:

Use trauma-informed care at all times:

  • Explain what you are doing
  • Ask what they are comfortable with
  • Move slowly
  • Respect bodily autonomy in every task

7. When something is disclosed: respond “As If”

The appropriate response is to treat any disclosure as if it is true, without attempting to investigate.

Aged care workers should:
  • Focus on immediate safety
  • Listen without judgment
  • Identify what the woman wants and needs
  • Refer to appropriate supports
It may be a current event or something from the past triggered by current circumstances.

Implication for frontline workers:

Your job is not to prove or disprove what happened.

Your job is safety, support, and referral.

8. Legal and police responses vary significantly by region

In metropolitan areas, collaboration between health services and police works reasonably well.

In regional areas, there can still be significant patriarchal attitudes and victim-blaming.

Implication for frontline workers:

Support the woman in navigating systems that may not respond well, especially outside major cities.

9. Older women have the right to sexual expression — but also need protection

Some cases raised were not assaults but involved consensual sexual expression between residents.
This creates tension between respecting rights and ensuring safety.

Implication for frontline workers:

You must balance:
  • The right to consensual sexual expression, and
  • The need to protect those with impaired capacity or communication difficulties.

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