Department of Health & Ageing: A Conversation on Ageing with Key Multicultural and Ethnic Groups

[Terry R.]

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/mi...1-mb-mb138.htm

19 October 2011

Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler and Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Kate Lundy today met with key multicultural community organisations in Sydney as part of a national conversation on healthy and positive ageing.

The views of these organisations will help inform the Gillard Labor Government’s response to the Productivity Commission Final Report, Caring for Older Australians.

“With older Australians leading longer, healthier and more prosperous lives than ever before, it’s important that the government looks carefully at how to provide the best possible care and support for older Australians,” Mr Butler said.

“Our population is ageing and included in this trend are people from a range of backgrounds.

“The number of older Australians from CALD backgrounds is expected to increase by over 40 per cent between 2011 and 2026 in line with the overall increase in the older population. By 2026, it is projected that one in four Australians aged 80 and over will be from CALD background.”

Senator Lundy said over seven million migrants had peacefully settled in Australia since the Second World War and many of these people now require aged care and support.

“A growing group of Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are reaching an age where they require care and support either in a community setting or in an aged care facility,” Senator Lundy said.

“Providing care and support that meets the needs of these Australians is something the Government is committed to.

“As well as ensuring that language or culture do not act as barriers to receiving high quality aged care, we must continue to take into account the cultural and religious needs of our seniors.”

The Government will develop its response to the Commission’s recommendations guided by four overarching principles:

o First, every older Australian has earned the right to be able to access quality care and support that is appropriate to their needs, when they need it.
o Secondly, older Australians deserve greater choice and control over their care arrangements than the system currently provides.
o Thirdly, funding arrangements for aged care need to be sustainable and fair, both for older Australians and for the broader community.
o And finally, older Australians deserve to receive quality care from an appropriately skilled workforce.

Since August this year, Minister Butler has been engaging in a conversation with older Australians, their families and carers at forums in all capital cities and major regional centres – giving the community the opportunity to contribute their views about care and support for Australians as they age.