Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care

October 12, 2025

Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care: Respecting Every Background

Aged care should feel like home, no matter where you come from or what language you speak. Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) helps aged care providers support older Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds. The goal is simple—make sure every person receives care that respects their traditions, beliefs, and identity.

Why Is Culturally Appropriate Care Important?

Australia is home to people from all walks of life, and this diversity does not disappear as we age. For many older Australians, language, food, customs, and religious practices remain an important part of daily life. Aged care services need to recognise these needs and provide support that feels familiar and respectful.

Without culturally appropriate care, older people may feel lonely, misunderstood, or even disconnected from their own identity. Something as simple as being able to speak your first language, eat familiar meals, or follow religious traditions can make a big difference in feeling at home in an aged care setting.

What Does PICAC Do?

Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care helps aged care providers understand and meet the needs of people from diverse backgrounds. This includes:

Training staff to understand different cultural traditions and values
Improving communication by supporting the use of interpreters and translated materials
Advising on culturally appropriate meals, activities, and spiritual care
Encouraging aged care services to be more inclusive and welcoming

By supporting aged care providers, PICAC helps ensure that no one feels left out or unheard.

How Does This Fit into Aged Care Standards?

The Australian government has set aged care standards to make sure all older people receive safe and respectful care. One of these standards focuses on dignity and choice, which includes cultural identity. Aged care providers must:

Recognise and respect cultural differences
Offer services that reflect a person’s background
Make sure older people feel understood and included

PICAC plays a key role in helping aged care providers meet these expectations, making aged care more welcoming for everyone.

What Does This Mean for You?

If you or a loved one need aged care, you have the right to care that respects your culture, language, and traditions. You should feel comfortable asking for:

Staff who understand or respect your background
Access to interpreters if needed
Meals that suit your dietary and cultural preferences
Opportunities to practice your faith or participate in cultural activities

Final Thoughts

Growing older should not mean losing touch with who you are. Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care helps make sure that aged care services respect and support every person’s identity, no matter their background. Because care should always feel like home.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the goal of Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC)?

The goal of Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) is to help aged care providers support older Australians from diverse cultural backgrounds, ensuring every person receives care that respects their traditions, beliefs, and identity.

Why is culturally appropriate care so important in aged care?

Culturally appropriate care is important because for many older Australians, language, food, customs, and religious practices remain a crucial part of daily life. Providing this care prevents older people from feeling lonely, misunderstood, or disconnected from their identity, making a big difference in feeling at home in an aged care setting.

What services does PICAC provide to aged care providers?

PICAC helps aged care providers understand and meet the needs of people from diverse backgrounds through several services, including: training staff on different cultural traditions and values; improving communication via interpreters and translated materials; advising on culturally appropriate meals, activities, and spiritual care; and encouraging inclusive and welcoming services.

How do Australian aged care standards address cultural identity?

One of the Australian government's aged care standards focuses on dignity and choice, which specifically includes cultural identity. This means aged care providers must recognize and respect cultural differences, offer services that reflect a person's background, and ensure older people feel understood and included.

What are my rights regarding culturally appropriate care?

If you or a loved one needs aged care, you have the right to care that respects your culture, language, and traditions. You should feel comfortable asking for staff who understand your background, access to interpreters, meals that suit your preferences, and opportunities to practice your faith or participate in cultural activities.

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The System Governor plays a vital role in Australia’s aged care system, overseeing service quality, continuity, and fair access for older Australians. This post explains its responsibilities, including policy development, provider accountability, and initiatives like Star Ratings, ensuring that aged care services are reliable, safe, and equitable.

Substitute decision-making

Substitute decision-making is used when an older person can no longer make important decisions on their own. A substitute decision-maker steps in to make choices about medical treatment, personal care, and living arrangements. Their role is to follow the person’s known wishes or act in their best interests when those wishes are not clear. Families can plan ahead by legally appointing someone they trust, and any valid Advance Care Directive must be followed. Understanding how substitute decision-making works helps ensure the person’s rights, preferences, and wellbeing remain at the centre of care.

Supported decision-making

Supported decision making is a rights-based approach that helps you stay in control of your life as you receive aged care services. Instead of others making choices for you, this approach focuses on giving you the information, tools, and support you need to make your own decisions. This support can come from family members, friends, or independent advocates who help you understand options and express your preferences.

Statement of Rights

The Aged Care Statement of Rights outlines the protections every older person can expect when receiving funded aged care services in Australia. It affirms core rights such as independence, choice, equitable access, quality and safe care, privacy, and clear communication. The Statement also ensures that individuals can speak up, provide feedback, or make complaints without fear of unfair treatment. For providers, it establishes clear responsibilities to act in line with these rights and demonstrate genuine understanding in daily practice. This framework places the dignity, identity, and preferences of the older person at the centre of all care decisions.

Self-advocacy

Self-advocacy is the ability to speak up for your needs, preferences, and rights when receiving aged care. It helps maintain autonomy, ensure quality services, and improve communication with care providers. By asking questions, expressing preferences, raising concerns, and keeping simple records, individuals can take an active role in directing their care. When extra support is needed, family, friends, or independent advocates can help ensure the person’s voice remains central to all decisions.

Sanction or Sanctions in place

Sanctions in Australian Aged Care are serious regulatory actions taken when a provider fails to meet required quality and safety standards. This article explains what sanctions are, why they are imposed, and the steps that lead to them, including Notices to Remedy and decisions by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. It outlines common sanction conditions, their impact on providers, and what they mean for residents. The summary also answers key questions about sanction duration, consequences for ongoing non-compliance, how to find sanctioned facilities, and resident rights. The goal is to help readers clearly understand how sanctions protect the safety and wellbeing of older Australians.