Ageing in Australia Expo a Success!
On Saturday 12 November 2011, the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing hosted the inaugural ‘Ageing in Australia: Cultural Diversity in Aged Care Expo’. Targeted at people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Melbourne, the free expo aimed to provide information about aged care and support services available in Australia.
Over 30 exhibitors specialising in aged care services and health initiatives took part in the event, including:ADEC (Advocacy, Disability, Ethnicity, Community), Alzheimer’s Australia/Victoria, Australian Greek Welfare Society, Australian Hearing, Australian Multicultural Community Services, Benetas, beyondblue, Blue Cross, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Care Connect, Carers Victoria, Centrelink, Chelsea Manor, Chinese Community Social Services Centre Inc, Department of Health, Elder Rights Advocacy, Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, Fronditha Care, Macedonian Community Welfare Services Inc, MS Australia, Palliative Care Victoria, Retirement Village Association, Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), The Centre for Philippine Concerns Australia Inc, Victorian Continence Resource Centre and Victorian PICAC and CPP funded organisations.
It is estimated that over 400 people attended the expo with an overwhelmingly positive response from participants.
Interpreters were made available to help with communicating with exhibitors, and a number of multicultural musical performances took place throughout the afternoon.
The event was considered a success by many, and provides a platform from which to both learn from and build to for future expos.
A big thank you to Polaron Language Services, Department of Health and Ageing and The City of Melboune for the support and for making the day possible.
Carers Victoria staff (left) with Ljubica Petrov from the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing
Tina Douvos from Australian Greek Welfare Society discusses aged care services with a group of seniors with the help of a Vietnemese language interpreter
The talented Mindy Wang performs the Chinese Guzheng