CONSULTATION GUIDE: DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL AGED CARE DIVERSITY FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLANS FECCA Diversity Framework Consultation Guide October_2017 1
WHO WE ARE The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) is the national peak body representing Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and their organisations. FECCA provides advocacy, develops policy and promotes issues on behalf of its constituency to Government and the broader community. FECCA supports multiculturalism, community harmony, social justice and the rejection of all forms of discrimination and racism so as to build a productive and culturally rich Australian society. FECCA’s policies are developed around the concepts of empowerment and inclusion and are formulated with the common good of all Australians in mind. FECCA has had a longstanding presence in policy and systemic advocacy on ageing and aged care issues for CALD Australians. FECCA is the leading stakeholder in CALD ageing and aged care policy, and has been a significant contributor to a range of collaborations, including the National Aged Care Alliance, and partnerships with other peak bodies, to achieve the inclusion and empowerment of older CALD Australians, their carers, and people from CALD backgrounds who work in the aged care industry. Introduction – The Diversity Framework The Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP, Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health, asked the Department of Health to work with interested parties to co-design an Aged Care Diversity Framework (the Framework). To inform development of the Framework the Minister established an Aged Care Sector Committee Diversity Sub-Group. FECCA is a part of the representation of the Diversity sub-group and represents older Australians from CALD
- backgrounds. Presently the committee members are organising consultations with their
particular constituents. The consultations will end on 31st December, 2017. A draft Action Plan will be made available for comment by March 2018. The final document will be launched by the Minister in May 2018. Under the Framework, initially three action plans will be developed commencing with: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) elders. Other diverse groups will follow after this initial development. The high level Framework will focus on all diverse older population groups. It will cover common barriers affecting access to aged care services to drive cultural and systemic
- improvements. It can also be used to inform future policy work on the aged care system.