Australia's national representative group for ethnic councils said it is critical that the public hearings encourage elderly Australians from diverse backgrounds to share their stories.
The for the aged care royal commission have been released, specifying the inclusion of younger people in aged care, Australians with disabilities and those in regional Australia.
Views are also being sought on "the wide diversity of older Australians and the barriers they face in accessing and receiving high quality aged care services."
The Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) has welcomed the terms of reference but said it is important that the public hearings are conducted in a way that encourages people to come forward and share their stories.
"So many Australians from the older population and those who are from a migrant background can be quite isolated," the group's CEO Emma Campbell told SBS News. "Without strong networks and family supports, it can be very difficult to navigate the health system and the aged care system."
"And we see increasingly older culturally and linguistically diverse Australians (CALD) falling through gaps and therefore not receiving services they need."
Language will be a barrier that needs to be overcome, Ms Campbell said.
"We need to make sure there are competent translators, and that information on the royal commission is provided in-language and through channels that are trusted and known by CALD Australians and that they're given support by organisations who understand the communities well, so that they can be supported to come forward to the royal commission and share their experiences of aged care in Australia."
The formulation of the terms of reference considered the views contained in more than 5,000 submissions, four national roundtables and involved consultation with the aged care sector.
Funding questions
FECCA in its submission called for consideration of including bilingual staff, translators and spiritual advisors.
The peak industry body for Australian aged care providers, Leading Age Services, said the costs of such extra services will need to be borne by either the federal government or aged care residents themselves.
Emma Cambell said if extra funding is required then it should be provided by the government.
"Having services delivered that are culturally appropriate and in the language you prefer to speak is your right as an Australian. And Australians of migrant background have spent their whole lives contributing to Australia and deserve care that meets their needs in their older age.
And just in the way you would increase an aged care package and funding to meet physical needs as someone gets older, we also have a responsibility of ensuring that we fund cultural, spiritual and personal needs as well so that people can age with dignity."
"I don't think this is for negotiation, I think this is really important if we want to make sure that we take care of older Australians in the way we would like to be taken care of as we get older."
Source: SBS News
Dignity and choice
The terms of reference identify dignity, choice and control as indicators of quality aged care.
Emma Campbell said it is these aspects in particular that can be barriers for Australians from culturally diverse backgrounds.
"It can be difficult to exercise choice if English is not your first language or if you have difficulty navigating the aged care system," she said.
"Many Australians of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have real challenges in navigating the aged care system, which can be very complicated, and this means they're not always able to make the choice and have control over the kinds of services they receive."
Dementia care will also be considered in light of "the increasing number of Australians living with dementia".
Source: SBS News
National Seniors Australia welcomes 'sufficiently broad' terms
National Seniors Australia have also welcomed the terms of reference, describing them as "sufficiently broad".
“This is a comprehensive brief and one that will provide some challenges. But we believe it is achievable," said the group's Acting CEO Professor John McCallum.
“We’ve had numerous inquiries into aged care previously. But now we have a royal commission and it’s vital the recommendations made provide the framework for an aged care system that will endure for not just a few years, but for decades.”
Government promises no compromise on quality
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said all forms of Commonwealth-funded aged care services will be under scrutiny.
"There will be absolutely no compromise on the safety and quality of aged care," he said in a joint statement with Health Minister Greg Hunt and Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt.
Western Australian Supreme Court judge Joseph McGrath and former Medicare Australia CEO Lynelle Briggs have been appointed commissioners.
The interim report is due to handed down on 31 October next year, with the final report set for release on 30 April 2020.
According to the 2016 Census, almost 50 per cent of Australians were born overseas or had a parent born overseas.
The 2016 Census also reveals 37 per cent of people aged 65 and over were born overseas, with 67 per cent of these people born in Europe and 16 per cent in Asia.
