Carer and senior woman

A vision for a culturally inclusive aged care system

Published: 1 October 2021
  • national
  • 1 October 2021
  • Inside Ageing

People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds make up approximately a third of our older population, however, they are not a homogenous group. Each person is unique in their life experiences and identity and there are additional diversity intersections to consider in each individuals identity such as their language, faith, religion, migration experience, settlement experiences, year of arrival in Australia, health conditions and social, educational and economic determinants to name a few.

The Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care Alliance is a national program funded by the Department of Health to support aged care providers to deliver culturally appropriate care. It welcomes the Federal Government’s aged care budget which proposes a roadmap to ensure safer and better quality care for older Australians. One of the directions of the budget is the compilation of a new Aged Care Act which places human rights principles in the centre of governance and service delivery.