Shining a light on diversity in aged care

Diversity is a hallmark of humanity, yet aged care has not always responded to needs that are out of the ‘ordinary’.
 
Those words come from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (the royal commission), which will hold a public hearing on diversity in aged care in Melbourne from Monday–Friday 7–11 October.
 
‘Barriers of a cultural, linguistic and experiential nature can all too easily intrude between those providing and receiving care. Unless careful attention is given to these aspects of care, there is a real risk that the system will leave older people isolated and neglected,’ the royal commission stated.
 
‘What gaps remain and what can be done to fill them?’
 
The hearing will focus on the experiences and needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, LGBTQI people, people forcibly removed from parents (including Forgotten Australians, child migrants and the Stolen Generations), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and defence force veterans.
 
It will include a panel session with members of the body responsible for the Aged Care Diversity Framework.

The hearing will also feature evidence from aged care providers with experience in meeting the needs of people from diverse backgrounds, a Victorian Government official experienced in designing human services programs for diversity, and a psychogeriatrician who is an expert in responding to trauma.
 
More information is available on the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety website.

aged care diversity public hearing royal commission