Industry partnership provides impactful cultural diversity resources

Ageing Australia has joined forces with the Fronditha Care Foundation to roll out new resources aimed at enhancing cultural diversity within aged care teams.

As aged care faces ongoing workforce shortages with high vacancy rates direct care roles, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) staff are a vital part of the workforce. Tapping into this talent pool is key to overcoming many challenges.

Ageing Australia – the peak body representing all providers of aged care (formerly known as ACCPA) – will utilise the new partnership with Fronditha Care to nurture and support aged care teams. 

The Celebrating diversity in aged care campaign aims to:

• Raise awareness of discrimination within the aged care sector
• Provide support for aged care workers who feel discriminated against
• Encourage providers to tackle this issue and support their workforce
• Educate older Australians and their families to reduce the discrimination of aged care workers. 

Tom Symondson, Ageing Australia CEO, emphasised that this campaign will strengthen the quality of care for older Australians and build a sector that is reflective of diverse communities. 

“Aged care workers are the heart of our sector, and this campaign celebrates the incredible contributions of our culturally diverse workforce while promoting inclusivity, understanding, and respect,” Tom Symondson said. 

“Every day, our dedicated workers provide compassion and connection to older Australians from all walks of life. We want to ensure they feel valued, respected, and supported in their roles.

“With aged care increasingly reliant on workers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, it’s more important than ever to foster inclusive, welcoming workplaces where everyone feels safe and empowered.” 

The cultural diversity in aged care campaign aims to raise awareness of discrimination within the aged care sector, provide support for aged care workers who feel discriminated against and encourage providers to tackle this issue and support their workforce.   

According to the Diversity Council of Australia, workplaces are happier and more effective when diversity is embraced, and the organisation and employees actively build inclusion. This will foster respect and a sense of belonging, allowing staff to focus on providing high-quality, person-centred care.  

As part of its campaign, Ageing Australia has launched a dedicated suite of resources and tools to help the aged care sector promote cultural diversity, prevent discrimination, and foster inclusivity. Accessible on the Workforce Hub, these resources offer practical advice and support for providers, workers, older Australians, and their families. 

Fronditha Care CEO Faye Spiteri OAM added that the goal is to elevate the role providers play in creating a safe and inclusive environment. 

“Key to supporting the Fronditha Care Foundation’s vision – for every older Australian to receive the care, support and resources they need to lead of life of dignity, vitality and wellbeing – is collaboration,” she said. 

“We’re committed to partnerships that contribute substantially to the improvement of service delivery across aged care; our partnership with Ageing Australia does this through the cultural diversity campaign. 

“Our collaboration on this project is focused on strengthening sector capacity to support Australia’s culturally diverse workforce and sheds light on the role aged care organisations play in providing a safe and inclusive environment for all.” 

Together, Ageing Australia and the Fronditha Care Foundation are committed to helping providers build a culturally diverse and supportive aged care environment where residents receive top-notch, person-centred care, and staff feel respected and empowered to do their best work.

More information for employers and providers is available here.