New research reveals a significant increase in cultural and linguistic diversity among Australia’s older population, with profound implications for the nation’s demographic landscape. The ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR) has published projections indicating a dramatic shift in the composition of Australians aged 65 and over.
The findings show that over the past decade, the average Australian has aged by one year and is three percentage points more likely to have been born overseas. This trend is influencing the older demographic, with the report projecting that by 2056, the number of older Australians from Asia will be five times what it was in 2021, constituting a fifth of the population aged 65 and above. Additionally, one-third of the older population will be from non-English-speaking countries, with South Asians experiencing the fastest growth.
The report highlights how migration influences the cultural makeup of the older population and mitigates the effects of population ageing. CEPAR Chief Investigator and Honorary Professor of Demography at the University of Melbourne, Peter McDonald, emphasised that pre-pandemic migration levels, combined with increased mature age labour force participation, could stabilise some economic impacts of population ageing.
However, the report also identifies potential vulnerabilities among ageing Australians from diverse backgrounds. Rafal Chomik, the report’s lead author and a CEPAR Senior Research Fellow at UNSW Business School, noted that while future cohorts may speak better English, they might still face socioeconomic, health, and care challenges requiring culturally appropriate responses.
Australia’s success in integrating migrant communities, largely due to its skilled migration program, is notable. Yet, the report indicates that some migrants face labour market challenges that can lead to risks in retirement. Culturally and linguistically diverse migrants often have fewer superannuation savings, lower home ownership rates, and reduced financial literacy. Additionally, while migrants generally arrive in better health than the Australian-born population, this advantage diminishes over time, and their likelihood of disability in old age increases more rapidly.
This situation presents significant implications for Australia’s aged care system. The report finds that culturally and linguistically diverse communities show a strong preference for home care over residential care. Consequently, as diversity within the older population grows, there will be an urgent need to expand home-based care services more quickly than previously anticipated.
Australia’s diversity is already pronounced. About half of all Australian adults were born overseas or have parents who were, with over a third being migrants and a quarter born in non-English-speaking countries. Notably, there are significant age-related differences in ancestry. While the majority of Baby Boomers are Anglo-Celtic, Millennials are the least European generation and the first minority Anglo-Celtic generation since colonisation.
These findings underscore the need for nuanced, culturally sensitive approaches to address the diverse needs of Australia’s ageing population. The shift in demographics will necessitate adaptive strategies in healthcare, economic policy, and community support systems to ensure all older Australians can thrive.
The CEPAR report paints a vivid picture of Australia’s future, where diversity among older Australians will be a defining characteristic, influencing policy and shaping the nation’s identity.
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