The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) has found that older culturally and linguistically diverse people can experience considerable disadvantage as they age due to language barriers, a lack of awareness of available services, a mistrust of government institutions, limited access to the internet, and limited skills in, and access to information technology.82 FECCA notes issues for some older Australians, such as low levels of home ownership, low superannuation balances, and low levels of other savings, are likely to be exacerbated for many older people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities whose lifetime earnings have been restricted through the process of migration and re-settlement.83 On the other hand, a scoping study of Arabic, Greek, Mandarin, and Vietnamese speaking communities by FECCA has also found that ageism is moderated in contexts where older persons ‘belong to a generation where social structures (family, ethnic group) and rituals (cultural, religious) have protected their role and purpose as valuable and respected members of the family and the community’, pointing to the many ways in which race and age can intersect.84 The intersection of age and race is particularly prominent in relation to the right to work. Though the right to work is a fundamental human right, older First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse people are too often prevented from enjoying this right. This was reflected in the Commission’s 2016 Willing to Work: National Inquiry into Employment Discrimination against Older Australians and Australians with Disability, which heard that older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may not have their valuable experience and skills, including connection to community and cultural competence, recognised; or are expected to offer those skills and services for free, for instance by sharing their knowledge of culture and country, or performing welcomes to country.85 These skills are particularly valuable in service delivery,86 as reflected in concerns shared with the Inquiry about the lack of cultural competency and understanding of intersectional discrimination from Disability Employment Service providers.87 Similarly, the Inquiry heard that older culturally and linguistically diverse people also encounter negative treatment as a result of their age and race, which may even be exacerbated by a lack of awareness of their own rights under Australian laws.88 Literacy and a lack of available information in Aboriginal and other community languages about government services, the Disability Employment Services (DES) system and DES providers to assist older people find employment were also highlighted by the Inquiry as hindering older First Nations and culturally and linguistically diverse people from finding work. 89 The Commission’s In our own words project previously heard from African Australians about a range of challenges many in the community experience in relation to human rights and social inclusion.90 A number of participants in this project noted particular challenges for older African Australians in finding employment and training. 91 The Commission heard that barriers, such as learning English and new skills to access the labour market, are further compounded by negative employer attitudes to mature age workers.92 Many also felt that the mental health needs of older African Australians, particularly refugees, had been largely neglected.93 Some community members, particularly older women, felt that legal approaches and service interventions to address family violence within the community were based on an understanding of ‘family’ that was not relevant or appropriate to new communities.94 National Anti-Racism Framework Scoping Report 2022 | 71