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Information sheet 18 - Aged care for older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

Information sheet on Aged care for older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

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The Australian Government is committed to providing access to culturally appropriate aged care for frail older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Under the Aged Care Act 1997 older people from non-English speaking backgrounds are identified as 'people with special needs'. This means that their ageing needs are taken into account in the aged care planning process. As such specific policy and programs have been designed to enhance access to aged care information and services, as well as build capacity for aged care providers to deliver culturally appropriate care.

As part of the Living Longer, Living Better aged care reform package, the Government is expanding support for people with diverse needs to enable them to better access information and support from aged care providers who are more aware of and responsive to their needs.

The Government will provide $24.4 million to assist older Australians with diverse needs, their families and carers to access information and aged care services that are sensitive to their backgrounds. People who will be supported include those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless; people who are care leavers; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

What type of aged care support is available?

The Department provides funding to organisations to promote and facilitate increased and sustained access by culturally and linguistically diverse communities with aged care needs to access aged care information and services. These organisations provide support for culturally and linguistically diverse communities in accessing aged care services and information. This support may include activities such as:

• acting as a conduit between the community and service providers;
• building links between existing support; and
• education of other relevant sectors of the community involved with the provision of aged care.

The Department offers financial support to government funded residential aged care services to access interpreting services. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS National) provides the interpreting services. TIS National is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provides both telephone and onsite interpreting.

While there are many residential and community aged care services operated by culturally and linguistically diverse community organisations, all aged care services must have strategies for addressing the individual needs of each client.
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Contact Listings

New South Wales (NSW)

Ms Nelke Willow – PICAC Manager
Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra
Physical address
117 Corrimal Street
Wollongong NSW 2500
Phone: (02) 4227 4222*
Fax: (02) 4226 3146
Email: Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra
Web: Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra

Victoria (VIC)

Ms Ljubica Petrov – Manager
Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing
Physical address
Level 1/789 Toorak Road
Hawthorn East Vic 3123
Mailing Address
PO Box 5093
Glenferrie South VIC 3122
Phone: (03) 8823 7900*
Fax: (03) 9822 6870
Email: Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing
Web: Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing

Queensland (QLD)

Ms Vicki Teleni – PICAC Officer
Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland
Physical address
34/184-188 Vickers Road North
Condon QLD 4815
Mailing Address
PO Box 246
Thuringowa Central Queensland 4817
Phone: (07) 4723 1470*
Email: Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland
Web: Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland

South Australia (SA)

Ms Rosa Colanero – CEO
Multicultural Aged Care Incorporated
Physical address
94 Henley Beach Road
Mile End SA 5031
Mailing address
PO Box 488
Torrensville Plaza SA 5031
Phone: (08) 8241 9900*
Fax: (08) 8352 1266
Email: Multicultural Aged Care Incorporated SA
Web: Multicultural Aged Care Incorporated

Western Australia (WA)

Ms Karena Sherriff - Service Manager
Independent Living Centre (ILC)
Physical address
Suite A 11 Aberdare Road
Nedlands WA 6009
Phone: (08) 9381 0660*
Fax: (08) 9381 0688
Email: Independent Living Centre
Web: Independent Living Centre
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Tasmania (TAS)

Mr Hans Schmid – PICAC Project Officer
Migrant Resource Centre (Southern Tasmania) Inc
Physical address
49 Molle Street
Hobart TAS 7000
Phone: (03) 6221 0940*
Fax: (03) 6231 1264
Email: Hans Schmid
Web: Migrant Resource Centre Hobart

Northern Territory (NT)

Ms Janet Brown – PICAC Officer
Council on the Ageing (NT) Inc
Physical address
65 Smith Street
Darwin NT 0800
Mailing address
GPO Box 852
Darwin NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8941 1004*
Fax: (08) 8941 5011
Email: Janet Brown
Web: Council on the Ageing (NT) Inc

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Ms Terrie Leoleos - General Manager
Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra Inc
Physical Address
117 Corrimal Street
Woollongong NSW 2500
Mailing address
P O Box 238
Wollongong NSW 2520
Phone: (02) 4229 7566*
Email: Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra Inc
Web: Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra Inc

Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Translating and Interpreting Services
Phone: 131 450*
Web: Translating and Interpreting Services

*Cost of phone calls

• Calls to 1800 numbers are generally free to the caller when made from a land line.
• Calls to 13 or 1300 numbers are charged at a low fixed amount to the caller when made from a land line.
• All calls made from mobile phones are charged at the rates applicable to each phone provider.
• All calls made from public phones are charged at the rates applicable to each phone provider.

All information in this publication is correct as at September 2012.

Disclaimer: This document is only a guide to the Government’s law and policies, and cannot take account of individual circumstances. The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing recommends that you seek appropriate professional advice relevant to your particular situation.

D0943 September 2012
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