Discover why culturally appropriate aged care matters and how greater support can help AfCAS create meaningful impact for CALD seniors and communities.

🌻Would you like to support age-care residents while learning about culturally appropriate care? AfCAS invites students, community members and people interested in aged care to help with our upcoming workshop for residents living in aged-care facilities. Why is AfCAS organising this workshop? The workshop aims to create a welcoming space where residents can connect, share experiences and participate in meaningful activities. Recognising each person’s language, culture and int

Imagine waking up somewhere that feels unfamiliar. The food tastes different. Conversations happen in a language you struggle to understand. Even the smallest routines that once brought comfort are missing. You are being cared for. But do you still feel like yourself? For many people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, this is why culturally appropriate aged care matters. Care should protect more than physical wellbeing. It should honour the identit

Growing older can bring many changes, but a person’s culture, language and identity remain an important part of who they are. For seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, receiving care that understands and respects these differences can make them feel more comfortable, connected and valued. While choosing aged care for our family members we need to understand these needs so we can select the right support for our elderly loved ones. More Than Ju

Australia is home to people from many different cultures, languages and backgrounds. This diversity is an important part of Australian society. When people access aged care and community services, they should feel respected, understood and comfortable. This is why culturally appropriate care is important, particularly for older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Culturally appropriate care means recognizing and respecting a person’s cultural

Discover why culturally appropriate aged care matters for multicultural families and how AfCAS supports older people, family carers and CALD communities.

When care begins with listening, a person's culture and memories remain part of their story As a daughter living in a multicultural country, I understand that choosing care is not simply about finding a service. It is about trusting someone with the routines, values and memories that help a parent remain themselves. A mother may forget where she placed her glasses, yet remember every word of a childhood song. Your father may struggle to describe pain in English, but explain i

Australia’s ageing community is culturally and linguistically diverse. For aged-care and community-service organisations, culturally appropriate care means recognising the different languages, cultural values, identities and experiences of the people they support. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, organisations can listen to older people and consider their individual needs when services are planned and delivered. The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission highl

Imagine entering an aged-care environment where your language, food, traditions and cultural values are understood and respected. For many older Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds, this can make aged care feel less like a service and more like a place of belonging. Culturally appropriate aged care recognises that everyone has their own identity, experiences and traditions. Simple things such as familiar meals, opportunities to practise cultural traditions, communic

Imagine not being able to tell your carer what hurts, what you need, and what bothers you with ease, not because nobody is listening, but because nobody speaks your language. This isn't hypothetical for an increasing number of older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. It's daily life. With Australia's ageing population, the aged care industry is facing a critical challenge: culturally insensitive, but clinically effective care. This is t

A smiling caregiver in scrubs holds hands with two elderly women during a warm home visit, reflecting compassionate, culturally appropriate aged care. Growing old is hard enough. Now imagine doing it in a language you no longer feel confident speaking, surrounded by services that don’t understand your traditions, your food. Or your faith. For thousands of migrants seniors across Perth, this isn’t a hypothetical – its’s daily life. Many people from culturally and linguisticall

CALD older Australians participating in an inclusive community activity. Imagine Namgay, a fictional older woman who recently entered aged care in Perth. English is not her first language, and she sometimes finds it difficult to explain her needs to care workers. One afternoon, a care worker takes time to learn about Namgay’s culture, favourite foods and family traditions. When Namgay talks about the traditional meals she enjoyed with her family, the conversation brings a smi

What happens when digital marketing moves beyond likes and clicks? Using AfCAS as a real-world example, discover how storytelling, social media, and analytics can turn online attention into trust, connection, and meaningful community impact.

Every older person deserves care that respects their cultural identity, language, traditions and personal experiences. For culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) seniors, culturally appropriate care can help create a more welcoming, respectful and inclusive aged-care experience. Culturally appropriate care involves understanding that people have different cultural values, communication preferences and expectations. When aged-care providers recognise these differences, t

Growing older should never mean leaving your culture, language or sense of belonging behind. For families supporting older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, finding care that recognises their identity and communication needs can be an important part of supporting their dignity and connection. In Perth’s diverse community, culturally appropriate care encourages us to look beyond basic care needs and consider what makes each person feel under

Discover why culturally appropriate aged care matters and how respecting culture, language and identity can help older people feel valued, included and supported.

Growing older is a natural part of life, but the need to feel understood, respected and connected does not disappear with age. For older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, culturally appropriate care can help recog nise the importance of language, traditions, values and community connections. What is culturally appropriate care? Culturally appropriate care recognises that every person has their own cultural background, language, traditions,

Getting older should not mean losing the things that make someone feel at home. For many culturally and linguistically diverse seniors, that can be as simple as speaking their preferred language, eating familiar food, keeping cultural or religious traditions, or having carers who understand the importance of family and community. These things might seem small, but they can have a big impact on whether someone feels comfortable, respected and understood. The Association fo

Discover why culturally appropriate aged care matters and how AfCAS supports CALD aged-care communities through training, support and advocacy.

Australia's aged-care sector supports people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. For aged-care managers and decision-makers, culturally appropriate care is more than recognising cultural differences. It involves understanding whether an organisation's services, staff and practices respond effectively to the needs of the communities it serves. Why It Matters Now At the 2016 Census, more than one-third of Australians aged 65 and over were born overseas, according