Asian female migrant aged care workers in regional Australia and social resilience

Abstract

This study explores the lived experiences of Asian female migrants, focusing on the well-being of aged care workers in Australia from a culturally and linguistically diverse background using a social resilience framework. This qualitative study utilized in-depth interviews and fieldwork observation of seven female migrant caregivers of Asian descent living in a regional area in Australia. The qualitative study design sought to gain rapport and trust with a group often facing gendered and racialised negative stereotyping. Three narratives of migrant women were selected to illustrate how they overcame challenges faced as migrants and as aged care workers to gain a sense of well-being and social resilience as a progression from coping, adapting to transformation. Three themes from the narratives are discussed: long-term career outlook; overcoming language barriers; and the cultural value of caring for the elderly. Compared to previous literature on female migrant aged care workers in regional Australia, our findings show that those of Asian descent were able to draw upon individual and cultural values as well as support networks both in the community and workplace and ultimately social resilience. Understanding the nature of coping, adaptation and transformation through these narratives provides knowledge that can aid not only in policy decisions to support quality caregiving practices in ageing Australian regional communities but also provide an important global comparative perspective for other countries with ageing populations reliant on a racialized and feminized labor migration from developing Asian countries.