Older Australians A report released by the Australian Institute of Criminology today identified three main groups of crime which affect older people. At the present time in Australia, there are about 2.3 million people or 12 per cent of the population, are aged 65 years and over. In the second and third decades of this century, people over 65 will account for almost one-quarter of the total population.
Older people are a very diverse group.
They include people from various cultural and linguist groups, rural Australia, the disabled aged, the frail aged and Indigenous Australians. The majority of people in the older age groups are women. This report lists a catalogue of some of the crime prevention programs for older people in place around Australia at the present time. In South Australia, the HomeAssist Scheme involves state government, local government and the police and provides security advice and assistance with the installation of security hardware for older home owners. Similar programs operate in the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.