Revealed “60% of People Aged 50+ Feel Lonely, especially CALD Seniors”

[26 May 2026, Sydney] CASS, a leading multicultural community services provider, announced at a press conference held on Tuesday, 26 May, the holding of its upcoming 45^th Anniversary Charity Dinner, themed “Empowering Seniors, Enriching Communities”, at Sunny Seafood Central Park Mall. CASS Board Members, senior staff members, and representatives of the event sponsors attended the occasion.

Speaking at the opening, CASS Chairperson, Prof. Stephen Li AM, said,

“As Australia’s population continues to age, senior loneliness and social isolation have become increasingly pressing social issues. Research found that 50% of people aged 50 and above experience social isolation, 60% report feeling lonely, and 25% experience severe loneliness¹. Among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) seniors, the situation is even more pronounced.”

 

“At CASS, we have been working closely with universities and research partners to better understand the lived experiences of the CALD ageing communities that we serve. We recognise the strength of our communities and are building on the strong engagement in informal volunteering among Australians born in non-English-speaking countries, as identified by Volunteering Australia.”

 

Prof. Li continued,“In seeking sustainable solutions for CALD’s ageing communities, CASS has been actively developing and refining its Volunteering Model since 2022. It has further been studied by Professor Bingqin Li from the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales.”

Professor Bingqin Li was invited to elaborate on the model, saying,

“The defining feature of the CASS Volunteering Model is assisted self-governance, a practical and culturally responsive approach through which volunteering becomes both community-led and institutionally supported. It demonstrates how inclusion can be fostered through relational and culturally grounded forms of organisation.”

The CASS Volunteering Model has proven to be an effective approach to empowering older adults and responding to multicultural community needs. It demonstrates how older migrants can transition from passive service recipients to active community leaders. The innovative model has gained recognition in several academic publications and has also been acknowledged in the National Strategy for Volunteering.

The CASS 45^th Anniversary Charity Dinner 2026, themed “Empowering Seniors, Enriching Communities,” aims to raise funds to enhance the CASS Volunteering Model and expand volunteer services for the wider community.  It will be held on Saturday, 13 June at Rhodes Phoenix Restaurant at 6:30 pm. Standard tickets are $138 each (including $64 of tax-deductible donation) and VIP tickets are $235 each (including $161 of tax-deductible donation). For ticketing, please call CASS at (02) 9789 4587.

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CASS extends special thanks to the businesses for sponsoring the Charity Dinner 2026. Gold sponsors represented at the Press Conference also spoke about their commitment to corporate social responsibility and the Charity Dinner. Supporting sponsors include: Gold Sponsors: Community Bank Darling Square, Hakka Pty Ltd, Galaxy Funerals, SPB Group Pty Ltd and GIO; Silver Sponsors: Austcover Pty Ltd, CANTON and Concord Health; Bronze Sponsors: Activeaura Care, Amazing Funerals, Apek Computer Technology, BrokerAU, Complete Allied Health Care, Humanforce, Max Solutions, Newbee, Super Rehab, Walking in Life and Westpac; Logo Sponsors: Allied Health For Life, Breakthru College, Kris Ahn Lawyers, Navitas Skilled Futures, Rotary Club of Campsie, Sanitise Housing Services, Soonhi Banchan and Thaifoon Eatery Pty Ltd. In-kind and Entertainment Sponsors: Amy Wong (Ambient Building Management), Golden Nest Group, Gong Grocer, Teh Botol Sosro and Eastern Cross Trading Co as well as Vietnam Australia Cultural Exchange Organisation.

¹ Council on the Ageing NSW. (2024). Voices of solitude: Loneliness and social isolation among older adults in NSW. COTA NSW. https://www.cotansw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Voices-of-Solitude-Loneliness-and-Social-Isolation-Among-Older-Adults-in-NSW.pdf