Professional development for delivering culturally appropriate care
Last updated on 2 August 2023
Aged care is becoming increasingly diverse in Australia leading to a more critical need for culturally appropriate care services.
According to the Department of Health, 28% of home care clients and 20% of people in residential aged care were from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background in 2020. Those figures are believed to be an underrepresentation as it only refers to people born in non-English speaking countries – a very specific marker of diversity.
Regardless, there is clear cultural growth in Australia, and our ability to provide appropriate care to the ageing population is more important than ever. Education is a crucial step towards supporting a wide range of people. Here are some of the courses that can help set you and your staff up for success when it comes to delivering culturally appropriate care.
The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing
For leading resources in cultural diversity, inclusion and best practices for culturally appropriate aged care, the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (CCDA) is arguably the leader.
Funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care, and supported by aged care provider Benetas, their online resources are essential for workers of all backgrounds. These resources will play a pivotal role in educating and upskilling all staff, whether they’re working directly with residents or providing guidance in a leadership role.
Key learnings
Not only is the CCDA focused on diversity, but there is a range of diverse topics on offer, providing numerous opportunities for learning and development. Their online Diversity Webinar series offers the best education resources straight from the minds of industry experts.
These free courses are accessible to all, and topics include culturally diverse perspectives on mental health care, the exploration of links between food, culture and identity, and steps for developing a diversity plan in aged care.
Regardless of the participant’s level of knowledge, there is something for everyone.
What sets it apart
Aged care leaders have a great opportunity to access unique expertise through the CCDA’s Diversity Mentoring Program which partners aged care leaders with diversity mentors from the CCDA for six months.
As a result, leaders can pick the brain of experienced mentors while developing and implementing their own culturally appropriate programs within their organisation. The mentorship will benefit organisations through policy and the flow-on effect means staff have more guidance when providing culturally appropriate care for residents or home care clients.
OPAN’s Planning for Diversity
The Older Person’s Network Australia (OPAN) provides free education and information workshops for aged care providers looking to create more inclusive services for residents from diverse or marginalised backgrounds.
OPAN’s Planning for Diversity workshop is a critical learning experience for aged care leaders, with OPAN identifying people responsible for quality improvement, service planning and/or compliance as suitable participants.
Key learnings
As the leading advocacy group for older people, OPAN is providing education that has residents at the forefront. Therefore, participants are able to learn about creating targeted services that engage individuals and families from diverse backgrounds while also pinpointing the existing barriers keeping them from services.
This means organisations have newfound knowledge and perspectives that can be used to unlock new markets or design services that are going to be more attractive to diverse residents.
Planning for Diversity also focuses on Aged Care Quality Standards and the Charter of Aged Care Rights to ensure that culturally diverse care remains at the forefront of all planning.
What sets it apart
OPAN’s commitment to the community puts local residents at the heart of all discussions. Their workshops are held across the country so participants have access to localised information and insights that will truly benefit operations.
It’s rare to have access to such specific resources and the ability to connect with your community at a deeper level is always beneficial to ongoing care and support.
Diversity in Aged Care with CRANAplus
Although CRANAplus has educational resources that are impactful for aged care providers in any setting, their focus on regional Australia, particularly remote and isolated locations, is a boost for regional providers looking for tailored information.
Diversity in Aged Care is an essential learning opportunity for providers ready to take the next step in expanding their ability to care for culturally diverse people.
Key learnings
As part of culturally appropriate care, you need to understand who you’re targeting and what they’re after. CRANAplus provides clear insights into the community around you, including people from CALD backgrounds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
Participants can learn how to promote inclusivity to a diverse group of people, while also learning about the most appropriate communication strategies to achieve mutual success. Appropriate communication will help break down barriers preventing older people from accessing your services.
What sets it apart
With a focus on rural and remote communities, CRANAplus has also created a resource that could benefit an unheralded part of the aged care workforce – carers and volunteers. Diversity in Aged Care is designed for aged care professionals, but it’s accessible to non-health professionals and those caring for older people. It can help create a wider sense of cultural acknowledgment of ageing.
Supporting cultural diversity
Aged care leaders and staff have a responsibility to be aware of the people they’re caring for, including their diverse backgrounds.
Yes, that often takes time, and so by supporting yourself and your staff with the best tools for success, you can build the foundations for culturally appropriate care. This will help existing residents, new residents and staff.
There’s also plenty of room for growth as you can continue to explore diversity in aged care, whether it’s through day-to-day care or advanced care planning. Education is just the starting point as you develop and implement culturally appropriate aged care policies that will benefit everyone within the organisation.