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Ethnic disparities in social and economic well-being of the immigrant aged in Australia

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Abstract

The paper examines ethnic differences in the social and economic well-being of the immigrant aged in Australia and the factors affecting older immigrants’ well-being as measured by a number of indicators. The data analysis is guided by the concept of the ‘Third Age’ as the basis for a more positive approach to the discussion of ageing and as a life-cycle stage of independent living in old age, focusing on the pursuit of an active retirement and the absence of core activity restrictions. Data from the 2006 population census on living arrangements, need for assistance with daily activities, income, participation in paid work and volunteering, and provision of care to other family members are used to examine the social and economic well-being of the immigrant population aged 65 and over identified by their country or region of origin and in comparison with the Australian-born aged. Policy implications of the research findings are discussed.

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Notes

  1. The marital status variable in the paper refers to registered or legal marital status. The limitation with this measure is that the married category does not include people in de facto relationships, who would also have the support of a partner. However, partnering by de facto relationship is less likely among older people than younger people. The 2006 census showed that only 2.4% of men and women aged 65 and over who were partnered were in a de facto relationship compared with 30.5% of partnered men and women aged 25–34 (ABS 2007). De facto relationships are also less prevalent among immigrants from non-English-speaking countries than the Australian-born population. The 2006 census shows that in the age group 65 and over, only 1.5% of partnered men and women from non-English-speaking countries were in de facto relationships compared to 2.6% of Australian-born men and women (unpublished data obtained for this study).

  2. Immigrants with permanent residence status or who have become naturalized citizens and are aged 65 and over are eligible for the age pension after 10 years of continuous residence in Australia (except for those who arrive as refugees). There are also income and assets tests that determine whether a person receives a part or full pension.

  3. Similar results for the other countries listed in Table 1 but not shown in Table 3 are presented in Khoo (2011).

  4. This would still be the case even if those in de facto relationships were considered as married. Although the Australian-born aged were more likely to be in de facto relationships than the immigrant aged, the difference between the two groups in de facto relationships was very small (see footnote 1).

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Acknowledgments

The paper is part of a research project on the ageing experiences of older Australians of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The project was funded by a research grant from the National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre and the Australian Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

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  1. Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute, The Australian National University, Bldg 9, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    Siew-Ean Khoo

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  1. Siew-Ean Khoo
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Correspondence to Siew-Ean Khoo.

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Khoo, SE. Ethnic disparities in social and economic well-being of the immigrant aged in Australia. J Pop Research 29, 119–140 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12546-012-9080-y

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