Cultural diversity brings new challenges for ageing population

The size and composition of Australia’s older migrant population from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds is bringing new challenges for government, service providers, and community organisations.

That is according to a new report being launched tomorrow (Wednesday, December 6) by UQ’s Australasian Centre on Ageing which has identified major issues of concern for older Australians from CALD backgrounds.

Professor Helen Bartlett, Director of the Australasian Centre on Ageing, said people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities would make up almost a quarter of the population aged over 65 during the next decade.

“This raises many important questions such as what types of services these people need, what special needs and requirements they have and how best we can meet their needs and demands,” Professor Bartlett said.

The report, Ageing and Cultural Diversity in Queensland: Working Together to make a Difference, has found the issues faced by these older people were often exacerbated by factors such as migration circumstances, age at the time of migration, gender, and geographical location.

“Importantly, we’ve found that cultural and linguistic diversity needs to be taken into account in developing strategies to help improve the well-being of older people from CALD backgrounds. Improved transparency, greater communication, and coordination between service providers and policy makers should be crucial elements of a strategy,” Professor Bartlett said.

She said she hoped the current project would lead to further targeted research providing a much-needed evidence base for policy and program development and implementation.

“We need to develop new and innovative strategies such as improved community involvement in appropriate policy and program development and more research to inform decisions that will improve the physical, emotional and social well-being of older people from CALD backgrounds,” Professor Bartlett said.

The project was financially assisted by the Queensland Government, through the Multicultural Assistance Program, Multicultural Affairs Queensland, Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Office for Seniors, Queensland Department of Communities.

The report will be officially launched by Ronan Lee MP, Queensland State Member for Indooroopilly, as part of the Australasian Centre on Ageing’s monthly Breakfast Colloquium held at Customs House at 7.15am.

Media inquiries: Professor Helen Bartlett (3346 9080) or Melinda Midgley, Marketing and Communications Manager, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences (3365 8820). A full copy of the report is available online at http://www.uq.edu.au/aca/index.html?page=55092.