Iranian Elderly in Sydney, Australia: A Reflection on Life
Freidoon A. Khavarpour *
Australian Health Service Research Institute, Building 234 iC Enterprise 1 Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia.
Atena Hafshajani
North Rocks Medical Services, North Rocks, New South Wales, Australia.
Kathleen Clapham
Australian Health Service Research Institute, Building 234 iC Enterprise 1 Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia.
Kathleen Clapham
Australian Health Service Research Institute, Building 234 iC Enterprise 1 Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The growth in the number and proportion of older adults is unprecedented in the history of Australia. Two factors, longer life spans and ageing baby boomers, have combined to increase this portion of population of Australian aged in recent decades. Using qualitative approach, 20 Iranian migrants, aged 65 and over, were selected and interviewed through a 10 months period, in 2016 and 2017. Conducted in various locations, participants were asked to reflect upon their social and economic experience in Australia. Most were positive about their lives in Australia, considered themselves as Australian citizen, believed Australians have ‘great deal of respect’ for the elderly, are very “warm” and “respectful” towards their elder generation, utilised various government services, and aimed to facilitate the process of “Australisation” of their children. The result indicates that the life of these elderlies can be enhanced by supporting various social and economic services and, by providing ongoing English language classes, a better quality of life for this segment of the population will be ranched.
Keywords: Older people, social issues, settlement, language, qualitative research.