Migrant ageing captured on film

A new DVD sharing the experiences and hopes of ageing migrants living in Australia will be launched at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne next Monday.

The Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Senator Kate Lundy, will launch the new DVD production titled Ageing in Australia: The Immigrant Experience.

The DVD features four people from different migrant backgrounds sharing their migration experiences as they approach the later stages of life.

Created by the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing, the short production is designed as a tool in the provision of culturally inclusive care by aged care service providers by giving the people featured in the production a unique opportunity to express their thoughts on ageing in Greek, Turkish, Italian and Vietnamese languages.

Ljubica Petrov, of the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing, said: “Australia is a multicultural country, and to effectively meet the needs of our ageing population, we need to be prepared to hear their life stories so we can design and deliver services that are responsive to their unique needs.”

Ms Petrov added the production was designed to provide a “unique” insight into the thoughts and experiences of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. It will also reportedly assist policy makers, service providers and other relevant stakeholders to learn about ageing migrant groups living in Australia.

“Due to language barriers, elderly migrants are often unable to participate in and share their thoughts with the wider Australian community.

“Poignant and often candid insights shared in their mother tongues in this production are not only a celebration of their resilience but also an affirmation of their belonging to their local, as well as broader, Australian community.”

The DVD ‘Ageing in Australia: The Immigrant Experience’ will be available to order online at www.culturaldiversity.com.au from 24 September, for $44 (including GST and postage).