Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Seniors in Western Australia: Trends and Issues

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1 Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Seniors in Western Australia: Trends and Issues Disclaimer: The information and advice within this document is provided voluntarily by the Office of Multicultural Interests as a public service. The information and advice is provided in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for purpose of this document. The reader of this document should satisfy him or herself concerning its application to their situation. The State of Western Australia, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Office of Multicultural Interests, and their officers expressly disclaim liability for any act or omission occurring in reliance on this document or for any consequences of such act or omission. Current as at August Rita Afsar Senior Strategy Planning and Research Officer Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI) Presented at the Migration and Mobilities Update Conference, University of Western Australia 6 September 2017

2 PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS Why CaLD seniors matter Consistent trends and changing realities Demographic Cultural Socio-economic Wellbeing Implications for policy, planning and program development

3 Spatial trend Stirling (C) Joondalup (C) Wanneroo (C) Melville (C) Mandurah (C) Rockingham (C) Swan (C) Gosnells (C) Cockburn (C) Canning (C) Top 10 LGA CaLD seniors CaLD seniors as % of No. % WA seniors CaLD population Stirling (C) 15, Wanneroo (C) 7, Melville (C) 7, Canning (C) 6, Gosnells (C) 6, Joondalup (C) 6, Swan (C) 6, Cockburn (C) 6, Bayswater (C) 5, Armadale (C) 2, All CaLD seniors 141,

4 Changing Cultural Composition of seniors Common ancestry LOTE LOTE with low English proficiency Language No. Language % English Italian Italian 2,614 Hazaraghi 93.6 Australian Cantonese Mandarin 2,439 Karen 85.1 Scottish Mandarin Vietnamese 2,155 Khmer 66.9 Irish Vietnamese Cantonese 1,917 Vietnamese 61.9 Italian German Croatian 545 Dari 58.2 German Croatian Macedonian 532 Korean 51.7 Chinese Polish Serbian 490 Bosnian 44.6 Dutch Dutch Portuguese 430 Punjabi 40.6 Welsh Greek Polish 403 Serbian 34.9 Indian Macedonian Spanish 399 Persian 34.3 Seniors % Change % of COB population BIrthplace England England 2. New Zealand New Zealand 3. Italy India 4. Scotland South Africa 5. India Philippines 6. Malaysia Malaysia 7. South Africa China 8. Netherlands Scotland 9. Germany Italy 10. Singapore Ireland 11. Ireland Vietnam 12. Vietnam Singapore 13. China Zimbabwe 14. Myanmar Indonesia 15. Philippines Germany

5 Implications: Policy, Planning and Program From planning and policy perspective, we can say that: the CaLD seniors cohort is experiencing a greater rate of growth compared with the Australia-born or MES born seniors, all planning and policies whether at the state, federal or local government level related to seniors require to ensure that needs of this group are included. Consumer choice needs to be re-examined and safeguarded with adequate regulatory mechanism in the context of significant % of CaLD seniors with low literacy, low income and high disadvantages. From program and service perspective, we can say that: With emerging groups of seniors mainly from Asian countries, there is the need for culturally appropriate needs and services Given that CaLD seniors have barriers in terms of low English proficiency and low educational level to access services, the need for interpreters, translated materials and other multilingual strategies is vital. With CaLD seniors, particularly women s, higher level of disadvantage compared with Western Australian seniors in general, such as low income and consistently high needs for assistance in core activities, there is a need for special services in the areas of health, carers, training, housing, transport, information and communication, disability and aged care. With increasing representation of CaLD seniors in LGAs, it is important that local governments consider this cohort in the development of their age friendly community plans, and that these and organisations consider their needs in terms of policies, programs and strategies such as Dementia Friendly Communities, NDIS and/or other disability schemes and Day Care and health promotion activities.

6 Contact omi.wa.gov.au