A Conversation on Ageing with Key Multicultural and Ethnic Groups
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler and Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Kate Lundy have met with key multicultural community organisations in Melbourne as part of a national conversation on healthy and positive ageing.
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The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
Senator Kate Lundy
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
30 September 2011Minister 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 Melbourne as part of a national conversation on healthy and positive ageing.
The views of these key groups will help inform the Gillard Labor Government’s response to the Productivity Commission Final Report, Caring for Older Australians.
According to the 2006 Census, 19 per cent of the overseas-born population were aged 65 or over, compared with 11 per cent of the Australian-born population and this is an important consideration in developing accessible and equitable aged care.
“In the future, older Australians will lead longer, healthier and more prosperous lives than previous generations. It’s essential we support older Australians to age well, lead vibrant lives and participate productively in society,” Mr Butler said.
“Our Australian population is ageing, and included in this trend are people from a range of backgrounds. It is important that the Government continues to address the needs of all older Australians.
“We want to give older Australians the security they need as they age and more choice and control over the way that they live.
“We also want to see a system that is financially sustainable, and is fair for those being cared for as well as for the rest of society, and a system that meets the highest standards of quality.”
“It’s essential that aged care is accessible and equitable for all Australians, and that as much as possible, we account for the different experiences of elderly Australians,” Senator Lundy said.
“In particular, language differences can present a challenge for aged care providers, and it is important that we do what we can to ensure those with low levels of English language proficiency are not disadvantaged in any way.
“In addition to the language needs of older Australians, we also need to be aware of the cultural and religious needs of our seniors.”
The Government will develop its response to the Commission’s recommendations guided by four overarching principles:
- 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.
- Secondly, older Australians deserve greater choice and control over their care arrangements than the system currently provides.
- Thirdly, funding arrangements for aged care need to be sustainable and fair, both for older Australians and for the broader community.
- And finally, older Australians deserve to receive quality care from an appropriately skilled workforce.
A second meeting with key multicultural community organisations will take place in Sydney on 18 October.
For more information, please contact the Minister's Office on (02) 6277 7280
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