Issues of Women Carers in Australian-Greek Families

Abstract

Several myths prevail regarding family-based caregiving in migrant groups from non-English-speaking backgrounds (NESB): i) a low need for formal services because of extensive family networks (i.e. informal assistance); ii) NESB groups prefer to 'look after their own' to a greater extent than do Anglo-Australian communities; and iii) caregiving is a 'natural' role for women in migrant families. In 1995 a survey was undertaken of 150 care-giving families in the Australian Greek community in Melbourne, identified from the register of the Australian Greek Welfare Society (AGWS), matched by age and gender with 150 Australian Greeks with no caregiving roles. Health status and social experiences were examined of providing family-based caregiving for a co-resident member with developmental delay, physical and/or mental disorder or frail age.