Aged care crying out for more migrant workers

Susan Ryan also wants to see the occupation of aged-care worker to be added to the immigration skilled occupation list.

She says it's critical because the number of Australians aged over 85 is projected to quadruple to at least $1.8 million over the next 40 years.

Ms Ryan says a growing number of elderly from migrant and refugee communities are being admitted into aged care residential facilities with specific cultural and linguistic needs.

She told Zara Zaher that workers from a range of communities can make a valuable contribution to the aged care industry.