1. The Meaning of Choice and Control in Multicultural Reality
Pino Migliorino
Chair, Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA)
The 2012 National Aged Care Conference, Living Longer. Living Better
6 August 2012

2. Pino Migliorino - Chair, Federation of Ethnic Communties' Councils of Australia (FECCA)
Key Figures:
Older persons from CALD backgrounds = 23% Australians aged This will rise to 30% by 2021
Image courtesy of Diversicare (

3. Pino Migliorino - Chair, Federation of Ethnic Communties' Councils of Australia (FECCA)
A number of ethnic communities are ageing faster than the general population
Proportion of selected ethnic communities aged 55+:
Dutch– 59%
Malta – 50%
German – 50%
Italian – 50%
In real terms (2006)....
155, 000 Italians aged 55+
93, 000 Greeks
77, 000 Chinese-speakers
...each with distinct needs for culturally appropriate aged care services

4. These numbers won’t remain stagnant
Pino Migliorino - Chair, Federation of Ethnic Communties' Councils of Australia (FECCA)
These numbers won’t remain stagnant
More recent immigrant communities from China, Vietnam,
India, the Philippines and others will experience significant
demographic change over the next decade
...which means the reforms we implement now must be far-sighted and flexible enough to adapt to future needs.

5. FECCA’s three-year CALD Aged Care Project:
Pino Migliorino - Chair, Federation of Ethnic Communties' Councils of Australia (FECCA)
FECCA’s three-year CALD Aged Care Project:
A National CALD Ageing Network (NCAN)
A consultative and research model for CALD ageing
A CALD Dementia project
A CALD Carer project
and
FECCA will assist the Australian Government Department of Health and
Ageing (DoHA) to develop a National CALD Aged Care Strategy to
ensure that Living Longer. Living Better, and all future aged care policy, is
culturally and linguistically inclusive.

6. “New and inspiring paradigms of the roles of ageing in our society
“New and inspiring paradigms of the roles of ageing in our society...” - National Aged Care Alliance, Leading the Way: Our Vision for Support and Care of Older Australians (2009)
Pino Migliorino - Chair, Federation of Ethnic Communties' Councils of Australia (FECCA)
Image courtesy of Diversicare (
“The appropriate measure of adequacy is to assess whether people are having their needs optimally met – whether they have access to the services of their choice at the time it is needed.”
- COTA

7. Choice and control means....
Pino Migliorino - Chair, Federation of Ethnic Communties' Councils of Australia (FECCA)
Choice and control means....
1. Knowledge
Understanding the system
Information available through multiple access points
Information available in all community languages
= informed participation in the aged care system

8. Choice and control means...
Pino Migliorino - Chair, Federation of Ethnic Communties' Councils of Australia (FECCA)
Choice and control means...
2. Options
A system that supports diverse care preferences
There is no single best-practice model
A system that recognises the importance of informal carers
“Having the option of purchasing care from neighbours, friends or family may mean access to care which is provided by a person who understands their culture, language and community”.
- Glenn Rees, CEO, Alzheimer’s Australia

9. Thank you Ph: (02) 6282 5755 FECCA National Secretariat Unit 1
Pino Migliorino - Chair, Federation of Ethnic Communties' Councils of Australia (FECCA)
Thank you
FECCA National Secretariat
Unit 1
No. 4 Phipps Close
DEAKIN ACT 2605
PO Box 344
CURTIN ACT 2600
Ph: (02)