The Morrison Government will provide $1.9 million to continue the successful Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) program, to help ensure senior Australians have access to an inclusive aged care system that embraces diversity.
Our Government recognises that for some senior Australians and their families from cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, talking about aged care and navigating the aged care system can be daunting.
The work of PICAC aligns with the our Government's priority to help aged care providers deliver services in a way that values the diverse characteristics and life experiences of senior Australians.
As our population ages, so does the demand for aged care workers who have the skills to provide culturally appropriate and sensitive care to people from all backgrounds.
The PICAC program has delivered advice and training programs to meet the needs of senior Australians from CALD backgrounds for more than 20 years.
In 2018, an evaluation of the program found it was well-regarded by aged care providers and CALD community organisations.
Based on this evaluation, and to ensure PICAC members can build capacity and expertise, I have asked my department to bring together stakeholders to help determine what the aged care system needs from the program in the future.
The evaluation report is now available on the department's website.
To keep updated on the PICAC program and future stakeholder meetings, visit https://agedcare.health.gov.au/older-people-their-families-and-carers/people-from-diverse-backgrounds
A PICAC organisation is funded in each state and territory to support aged care providers to deliver culturally appropriate aged care to older people from CALD communities.
