Making Intergenerational Care a Possibility in Australia: A Review of the Australian Legislation

ABSTRACT

In the Australian context, the out-of-home care of children and respite service for older adults are segregated. Yet internationally there has been a shift toward intergenerational programs that purposefully bring together younger and older people for mutual benefits. This paper examines the enablers of, supports for, and constraints of introducing intergenerational care programs (IGC) within the Australian legislation and regulations of child-care and aged-care programs. In doing so, program design features, workforce strategies, and built environment are considered. The literature indicates that the meshing of standards into IGC programs provides an opportunity to make intergenerational care an attractive model for respite to caregivers and recipients of care, while providing intergenerational contact for younger families. Such a program is likely to be cost effective with economies-of-scale workforce efficiencies. Future research will involve a needs assessment of potential consumers to explore the possible demand for intergenerational care programs within Australia before conducting a trial of different intergenerational care programs.

KEYWORDS:

• Aged care
• child care
• intergenerational care programs
• legislation
• policy

Acknowledgments

The Intergenerational Care (IGC) Study was undertaken by Griffith University. The principle investigators were Anneke Fitzgerald, Nerina Vecchio, Kate Shacklock, Neil Harris, Kathy Eljiz, and Katrina Radford.

Funding

This study was funded by Griffith University and Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Health Service.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by Griffith University and Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Health Service.”