One-third of older Australians are from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds (ABS 2012). Knowing how this population group accesses aged care is a key issue in ensuring equitable and need-appropriate service delivery.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has been funded by the Department of Health (DoH) to explore the available data in the AIHW National Aged Care Data Clearinghouse (NACDC). This feasibility study examines options for mapping how older people from migrant CALD backgrounds use aged care services, including historical usage and potential future projections. This work builds on previous recommendations made by the AIHW on best measures to record people’s cultural and linguistic diversity in aged care data collections (AIHW 2014).