The National Network of Polish and Multicultural Community Organisations Inc.

The Polish Ageing Community in Australia

28,000 are older persons, the majority being in their late 70s and early 80s.
The Polish community has the second-largest number (after the Italian community) of older persons who are 75+.
The Polish community is the 4th-largest ethnic group in terms of the number of older persons.
The peak demand for services is now, due to the migration pattern — ie, almost 60,000 arrived as Displaced Persons following World War II (between 1947-53).
Almost 40% of older persons live in lone households and significant number do not have any family.
For most, the only income is a pension.
There is a reluctance to accept services until crisis occurs.

There continues to be a strong need and long waiting lists for home-based community care services provided the Polish way — ie with Polish-speaking staff and a service that recognises cultural and spiritual needs.
There is a strong need to expand the existing Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) program (volunteers visit isolated residents in aged care facilities).
There is almost a complete lack by residential care providers of using interpreters to communicate with residents who cannot speak English.
There exists a shortage of skilled Polish speaking staff in community care and residential care.
There is a shortage of Polish-speaking interpreters.
Difficulty recruiting new volunteers. Current volunteers are old themselves, and it is not unusual for a volunteer to suddenly become a client.
Frequently, there is a lack of culturally appropriate activities, provided on a regular basis, for CALD residents in aged care facilities.
Evidence to date indicates that residential clusters for CALD people, eg The Polish community, have not worked.
The Federal government does not have a comprehensive strategy on how to best provide care to people of CALD backgrounds. The Community Partners Program (CPP) is inadequate and only funded on a 12-month basis.