Looking after indigenous Australians in aged care

A New South Wales aged care provider has developed a new project which aims to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) participation in aged care.

Posted May 29th 2014

by super

Providers

<p>Aboriginal UnitingCare Ageing employees, like Barry (who wishes to have his surname withheld), will benefit from the organisation's Reconciliation Action Plan. </p> — Aboriginal UnitingCare Ageing employees, like Barry (who wishes to have his surname withheld), will benefit from the organisation's Reconciliation Action Plan.

A report by Reconciliation Australia and Deloitte Access Economics shows that closing the gap of Indigenous unemployment would, by 2031, grow the Australian economy by 1.15% more in real terms than would otherwise be the case. This equals to a gain of approximately $24 billion.

UnitingCare Ageing will set up Reconciliation Action Groups to work with local communities and guide the work of UnitingCare to ensure actions are appropriate to each community.

“Real change begins at home, before you can be credible speaking to customers, you have to do the heavy lifting behind the scenes”, Mr Teulan says.

“We’re thrilled to have worked with Reconciliation Australia and believe that together we have developed a plan which will set a firm foundation to providing better services in aged care to the ATSI community.”

Reconciliation Australia’s chief executive, Leah Armstrong, commends UnitingCare Ageing on its commitment to joining the RAP program.

“RAPs are having an enormous impact on reducing mistrust and ignorance, and building real personal relationships between ‘First Peoples’ and other Australians,” she says.

“It’s important not only for decreasing Indigenous unemployment, but for providing care for ATSI peoples that are culturally appropriate.”