Aging away from home: A cultural context and workforce challenges for African Australians; the necessity for an 'Afrocentric' Care Model in Australia

Mimmie Claudine Watts^*

• Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Australia

This perspective examines the emerging African Australian elderly group, a minority group within a minority and the need for an Afrocentric-oriented workforce. It discusses aging and support systems within a traditional African setting, contrasted to the solitary state of the aging African Australian diaspora, while highlighting the presence of a CALD workforce ready to support their elderly. In 2016, for example, there were approximately 1000 Sub-Saharan born African Australians aged 65 and over. This figure is projected to expand to 29,000 persons. That is a +2245% growth by to 2056. The only other comparison group with such exponential growth is Central Asia estimated to grow by +3783% from 3000 to 59,000 (Wilson, McDonald, Temple, Brijnath, & Utomo, 2020). This highlights the need for services and a workforce to care for this emerging group of older Australians using cultural inclusive care models, as they move into residential aged care; a transition away from the traditional intergenerational coresidency in Africa. Intergenerational coresidency, a cultural practice common in African family structures, are shared. The values of respect, communal existence, filial responsibilities, and the need for connections to kin, explored. Hence, the challenges facing elderly parents left behind in Africa, children living abroad, need addressing. Protracted issues such as limited participation in the workforce earlier in life, its subsequent impact on the individual later, have profound financial impact. In conclusion, gaps in the workforce to meet the needs of an elderly minority group are sought. Finally, an Afrocentric workforce framework is examined and proposed.