Investing in Culturally Appropriate Care: Creating Impact for CALD Communities
Why culturally appropriate aged care matters and how funding can help AfCAS strengthen its community impact.
Imagine growing older and needing more support, but struggling to explain what you need because English is not your first language. The food may be unfamiliar, important traditions may be overlooked or interactions with carers may simply feel different.
These experiences can affect for seniors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), migrant and multilingual backgrounds, whether they feel understood, respected and comfortable. The customs, values and preferences that have shaped a person throughout life continue to matter as they age.
This is where culturally appropriate care makes a difference. Instead of taking a one size fits all approach, it considers the person behind the care. In practice, this could mean recognising communication barriers, respecting cultural preferences or providing interpreting support so that seniors can feel more confident and included in their care.
Turning cultural understanding into meaningful action for CALD communities
How does AfCAS make a difference?
Recognising the need for culturally appropriate care is only the beginning. The next challenge is helping organisations and communities put that understanding into practice.
This is where the Association for Culturally Appropriate Services (AfCAS) comes in. Its work centres on three key areas:
Train: Building the knowledge and skills organisations and communities need to better respond to diverse cultural needs.
Support: Connecting CALD clients with specialised assistance, including interpreting, translation and volunteer visitor services.
Advocate: Raising awareness through research, forums, events and shared knowledge.
AfCAS has also developed connections across community, education and professional organisations, helping create a wider network around culturally appropriate care.
So, for the senior who may struggle to communicate, feel culturally understood or access appropriate support, these activities have a practical purpose. Helping turn cultural understanding into better support for CALD communities.
Why does funding matter?
Turning cultural understanding into action requires resources. This is particularly important for AfCAS because it is a young, volunteer supported organisation, with funding and sustainability remaining an ongoing challenge.
For organisations and professionals involved in community funding decisions, the question becomes: what could greater funding make possible?
It will strengthen AfCAS's capacity to continue its work across training, support and advocacy for CALD communities. Ultimately, the impact goes beyond supporting an organisation. It is about strengthening culturally appropriate care for CALD seniors and communities.
Be part of the Impact
Understanding why culturally appropriate care matters is a good place to begin. What comes next is turning that understanding into meaningful action.
Could your organisation help create that impact through funding?
Discover AfCAS and learn more about its work with CALD seniors and communities: https://www.afcas.net/
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