Safeguarding Elders
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Safeguarding Elders
Presented by Robert Fitzgerald AM
Presented by Robert Fitzgerald AM
Recorded 21 March 2025
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Presented by Robert Fitzgerald AM, Age Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission.
Robert's early career was as a solicitor and corporate lawyer. He moved into the public service in numerous Commissioner roles across a range of high-profile issues for Government at both State and Commonwealth level, initially as Community and Disability Services Commissioner in NSW.
He served as a Commissioner on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and as a Commissioner at the Productivity Commission for over ten years. In that latter role he conducted multiple inquiries including Care for Older Australians, National Disability Agreement and Australia’s Health Workforce. Robert was also the inaugural NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner (2019-2024).
He is a strong believer in the impact of non-profit endeavour and has served on numerous NGO boards for more than four decades including - St Vincent de Paul Society, Benevolent Society, Caritas Australia and Social Ventures Australia. Notably, Robert was President of Australian Council of Social Services and the inaugural Chair of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws (UNSW). He was previously an Adjunct Professor at both the University of Western Australia and the Australian Catholic University. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1994 for his services to the community and awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003 for services to the public.
Robert has dedicated much of his adult life to promoting the rights of all Australians, especially those most vulnerable. He has been a dedicated advocate of universal, enforceable and practical rights embedded in high quality public policy, legislation, service systems and the community. Robert has actively pursued the rights of older people to live free of discrimination and abuse in every aspect of their lives.
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Australian Catholic Safeguarding Ltd respectfully acknowledges all Traditional Custodians of the land and waters of Australia.
We pay respect to their Elders, past and present, and young leaders of today and the future. ACSL commits itself to the ongoing work of reconciliation with our Aboriginal families and communities.
ACSL acknowledges the lifelong trauma of abuse victims and survivors and their families; the failure of the Catholic Church to protect, believe and respond justly to children and adults at risk; and the consequent breaches of community trust.