Building acceptance of a culturally diverse aged care workforce

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland asked Outpost Consulting to research anecdotal evidence that some older people do not welcome care and support from workers whose cultural background differs from their own. The aged care workforce is increasingly diverse and relies on overseas recruitment to fill shortages. COTA wanted to inform strategies that improve experiences for both workers and older Australians, while respecting clients’ right to choose who supports them.

The research explored how widespread the issue is, which strategies have worked, and the key factors behind their success. A rapid literature review informed a provider focus group and interviews with peak bodies, government and older people receiving home care. We recommended best-practice guidelines to help providers create safe, inclusive workplaces for culturally diverse staff, training for managers on leading diverse teams, partnerships with multicultural services, and support for workers’ ongoing English language development. We also recommended involving older people in designing solutions.