the Aged Care Today magazine featured articles

There is also a high proportion of older people accessing aged care services who are from CALD backgrounds – around one in four people receiving home care and one in five people in residential aged care – many of whom have limited English and appreciate interactions in their mother tongue.

With our ageing population and the aged care sector’s projected growth, combined with existing high vacancy rates in direct care roles, there will likely be a steady increase in recruitment from CALD communities into the future.

To help the sector continue to secure and retain these workers, it’s essential that service providers create welcoming and safe workplaces free from discrimination in relation to CALD employees.

Cultural diversity discrimination is a prevalent issue in our sector, posing significant risks to caregivers, organisations and care recipients.

Manifesting as stereotyping, cultural insensitivity, lack of representation or inadequate training, this issue undermines worker wellbeing, job satisfaction and staff retention. Furthermore, it can lead to isolation, exclusion and compromised care quality when older Australians refuse care from culturally diverse workers.

The sector has a duty of care to support all workers and ensure workplaces are free from racial discrimination and offer an inclusive environment for all staff. All those providing care to older Australians need to be valued, respected and supported.

According to the Diversity Council of Australia, workplaces are happier and more effective when diversity is embraced, and the organisation and employees actively build inclusion. This will foster respect and a sense of belonging, allowing staff to focus on providing high-quality, person-centred care.

The Aged & Community Care Providers Association (ACCPA) recognises the importance of cultural diversity in aged care and, together with the Fronditha Care Foundation, we have launched a dedicated campaign to promote cultural diversity within the Australian aged care workforce.

The Cultural Diversity in Aged Care campaign aims to raise awareness of discrimination in the sector and foster a culturally inclusive workforce.

As part of the campaign, ACCPA has developed a range of resources and tools to strengthen the sector’s capacity to support cultural diversity.

Targeted towards providers and aged care workers, as well as older Australians and their family members, the resources include practical guides, checklists, tips and roadmaps to help prevent discrimination and encourage inclusivity.

Available on ACCPA’s Workforce Hub, these resources aim to support workers experiencing discrimination, empower providers to tackle this issue and foster a positive work environment, as well as educate older Australians and their families.

Fronditha Care CEO Faye Spiteri OAM explains why this initiative is important.

“Key to supporting the Fronditha Care Foundation’s vision – for every older Australian to receive the care, support and resources they need to lead of life of dignity, vitality and wellbeing – is collaboration,” she said.

“We’re committed to partnerships that contribute substantially to the improvement of service delivery across aged care; our partnership with ACCPA does this through the cultural diversity campaign.

“Our collaboration on this project is focused on strengthening sector capacity to support Australia’s culturally diverse workforce and sheds light on the role aged care organisations play in providing a safe and inclusive environment for all.”

As part of the campaign’s launch, ACCPA and the Fronditha Care Foundation are proud to share a powerful video highlighting the vital contributions of aged care workers from diverse cultural backgrounds.

The video celebrates the culturally diverse aged care workforce and features staff from Fronditha Care in Victoria sharing their valuable insights and best-practice diversity stories.

The video format is one way we can bring attention to cultural diversity in the aged care workforce, and emphasise the importance of respect, inclusivity and appreciation for their life-changing work.

Embracing diversity is the cornerstone of a truly inclusive workplace, where every aged care worker feels valued, respected and empowered to deliver exceptional, person-centred care.

ACCPA and the Fronditha Care Foundation invite aged care workers, providers, consumers and other sector stakeholders to support the Cultural Diversity in Aged Care campaign by accessing and making use of the campaign video and resources on ACCPA’s Workforce Hub.

Together we can promote inclusivity and enhance cultural understanding. Everyone’s contribution, regardless of their cultural identity is essential to our sector’s growth and success.