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Aged care homes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
If you’re an older Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person and you wish to access care, there are a number of government-funded aged care services available.
All aged care services are expected to provide culturally appropriate care for their residents, and there are also a number of services specifically for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Aged Care Home Finder on this site can help you to find an aged care home in your area that suits your needs.
Next step: Aged Care Home Finder
Older people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are able to access residential and community aged care services through the following ways:
- Under the Aged Care Act, 1997 (more information), there are residential and community aged care services throughout Australia and some of these are managed by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander agencies, or deliver services mainly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access mainstream services.
- The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Strategy provides ‘flexible services’ which are culturally appropriate aged care services, mainly in rural and remote locations, which may be close to your home and country.
- Community aged care services in your area are also available through provisions in the Home and Community Care Act, 1985. These are not specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Both the Aged Care Act 1997and the Home and Community Care Act 1985 (more information) require services to be delivered with cultural sensitivity in mind.
More information
For more information on the location and types of aged care services available specifically for older people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, please contact your state and territory office of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Read more: Useful contacts for help to stay at home
For more general information about aged care support services, including copies of the Information Sheet – Aged Care for older people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, please contact the Aged Care Information Line on 1800 500 853. Alternatively, you can visit a Commonwealth Carelink Centre on 1800 052 222 or email your inquiry to: indigenous.aged.care@health.gov.au.
Common questions on this topic:
- What aged care support is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
- How do I find a home that provides for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
- Can I find a home that will cater for all of my care needs as I get older or need more assistance, so I don't need to move around?
See all common questions
