Ageing, disability and homelessness are issues that increase people’s vulnerability to victimisation and, at the same time, reduce their likelihood of reporting crime or seeking assistance. Other social and health issues may coexist with these issues, increasing vulnerability, e.g. domestic violence, mental illness, etc. Police attending these types of incidents where ageing, disability and / or homelessness are also apparent, may need to access or refer to specialist services such as Auslan interpreters, Justice Advocacy Service, the NSW Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline and the Link2Home service.
Amongst our strategies to enhance our response to the abuse, neglect and exploitation of older people, people with disability and homeless persons, NSW Police Force employs Aged Crime Prevention Officers) in a number of Metropolitan and Regional Commands.
For information about the Department of Communities and Justice Disability Advisory Council, please visit Diversity Services
Or call 02 8688 8460 or 02 8688 7507 or TTY 02 8688 7733
How to contact the police if you have a hearing/speech impairment
TTY :(02) 9211 3776
(hearing / speech impaired).
The National Relay Service
People with hearing and speech impairments can also contact police through the National Relay Service. A professional relay officer becomes the central link in the phone call relaying what is said by both parties. This is strictly compliant with privacy legislation.
Police Assistance Line (non emergencies)
People who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment can call the Police Assistance Line through the National Relay Service:
TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 131444
Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay) users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 131444
Internet relay users connect to the NRS (see www.relayservice.com.au for details) and then ask for 131444
Crime Stoppers (report information about crime)
People who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment can call Crime stoppers through the National Relay Service:
TTY users phone 1800 555 677 then ask for 1800 333 000
Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay) users phone 1800 555 727 then ask for 1800 333 000
Internet relay users connect to the NRS (see www.relayservice.com.au for details) and then ask for 1800 333 000
Emergencies
People who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment can call emergency services through the National Relay Service:
TTY users dial 106 (This is a dedicated text-based emergency phone relay service for TTY users with direct access to the police, ambulance and fire brigade emergency lines.)
Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay) users phone 1800 555 727 then ask for 000
Internet relay users connect to the NRS (see www.relayservice.com.au for details) and then ask for 000
For more information, contact the National Relay Service on 1800 555 660 or visit their website www.relayservice.com.au.
Making complaints about disability discrimination
To make a complaint, please refer How to lodge a complaint page.
Other avenues of complaint
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, people can lodge complaints of discrimination and harassment with:
The Australian Human Rights Commission
GPO Box 5218, Sydney, NSW 2001
Phone 1300 656 419
TTY 1800 620 241
Ageing and Disability Commissioner
The NSW Government has established the Ageing and Disability Commissioner to better protect adults with disability and older people from abuse, neglect and exploitation by someone they know in their home, or community.
For abuse of older people and adults with disability call:
NSW Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline
1800 628 221 (Mon-Fri, 9-5)
For abuse of children with disability call:
132 111 (24/7)
Anti-Discrimination Board
The Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW is part of the NSW Attorney General’s Department. It administers the Anti-Discrimination laws of New South Wales.
PO Box A2122, Sydney South 1235
Phone (02) 9268 5555
Toll free 1800 670 812 (for rural and regional New South Wales only)
TTY (02) 92685 5522
Aged Crime Prevention Officers
In June 2016, the Parliamentary Inquiry into Elder Abuse, (Recommendation 10) proposed:
That the NSW Police Force establish a Vulnerable Community Support Officer in each Regional Command in New South Wales, with the position entailing training and support to front line officers, police response, liaison with local service providers and other government agencies, community education, awareness and engagement.
In 2018, the NSW Government announced an enhancement of 1500 police officers to protect communities and fight crime. Of those, an Aged Crime Prevention Officer would be established in each Police Command, to be rolled out over 4 years.
The establishment of these specialist Aged Crime Prevention Officer (ACPO) positions acknowledges the need for early intervention for individuals who are at risk and provides the opportunity to improve police understanding of elder abuse, customise police responses to the special needs of elderly victims and assist to reduce general community and cultural risk factors.
The integration of these ACPO positions policing communities has seen the establishment of 12 ACPOs located at the following PACs/PDs:
Central West PD
Coffs/Clarence PD
Eastern Suburbs PAC
Lake Macquarie PD
Liverpool PAC
Mid North Coast PD
Monaro PD
Newcastle City PD
North Shore PAC
Orana Mid Western PD
Port Stephens Hunter PD
South Coast PD
Ageing
- Abuse of older people and people with disability – Fact Sheet
- Abuse of older people and people with disability – Translated
- Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline 1800 628 221 (Monday – Friday 9-5) This is part of the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission and was previously known as the Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit. It is a free, confidential service that provides advice and support to older people and adults with disability experiencing abuse.
- Legal Aid Services for Older People
- Older Persons Advocacy Network
- Seniors Rights Service
- Dementia Australia
Disability
- International Day of People with Disability
- Abuse of older people and people with disability – Fact Sheet
- Abuse of older people and people with disability – Translated
- Abuse of older people and people with disability – Easy Read
- Ageing and Disability Abuse Helpline 1800 628 221 (Monday – Friday 9-5) This is part of the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission and was previously known as the Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit. It is a free, confidential service that provides advice and support to older people and adults with disability experiencing abuse.
- Justice Advocacy Service – for people with cognitive impairment
- Guide Dogs Australia
- The Deaf Society
Homelessness
- Link2Home Homelessness 1800 152 152 – the NSW wide homelessness information and referral telephone service and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It provides information, conducts assessments, and makes referrals to homelessness services across NSW.
- Specialist Homelessness Services