Welcome to the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing's December 2011 e-newsletter, bringing you the latest news, resources and examples of best practice. We thank you for subscribing and invite you to share your ideas and developments so that together we can improve the quality of life for older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
You can also visit the news section of our website for regular updates from us.

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 Alzheimer's Australia- Victoria, Benetas, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Palliative Care Victoria, Department of Health, Victorian Continence Resource Centre, Blue Cross, Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS)  and many more.

Over 400 people attended the expo with an overwhelmingly positive response from participants. Interpreters were made available to help participants communicate with exhibitors, the languages covered were Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Greek, Croatian, Serbian, Turkish, Italian and Macedonian.

Musical performances by Nougat, Mindy Wang and Vinod Prasanna took place throughout the afternoon. All artists were very well received and helped make the day a memorable one.

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.

More than 30 exhibitors specialising in aged care services and health initiatives took part in the event

Over 400 people attended the expo at Melbourne Town Hall

Interpreters specialising in languages including Spanish, Vietnamese and Polish assisted with communication on the day

Tina Douvos from Australian Greek Welfare Society discusses aged care services with a group of seniors with the help of a Vietnemese language interpreter

View the photo gallery

Launch of Trilingual Website and Aged Care Information Booth

With the theme ‘Embracing the Future’, Chung Wah Community and Aged Care (CAC)’s official website was successfully launched on 4 November 2011 at the Chung Wah Association in Northbridge, WA.

The website www.chungwahcac.org.au can now be accessed in English, Chinese or Vietnamese by CAC clients, staff, volunteers, community groups and general public. CAC information and service details are now provided 24 hours a day for everyone! Users can also download CAC quarterly trilingual newsletters and/or apply to become a CAC volunteer.

A newly established Aged Care Information Booth was also launched at the same time. The Booth is manned by specially trained bilingual volunteers who are ready to provide basic aged care information for non-English speaking clients and community members. At present, they are available every Tuesday at the CAC office answering aged care enquiries, and every Wednesday and Thursday morning at the day centre in Balcatta.

If you are interested to know more about their programs and services, please call Ph: 08 9328 3988 or visit www.chungwahcac.org.au.

The Trilingual Website and Aged Care Information Booth was launched at Chung Wah Association in Northbridge. WA

Fresh & Fun! Stay On Your Feet Week completed

Chung Wah Community & Aged Care (CAC) organised a three-day Stay On Your Feet activity for centre clients and community members in September. The activity was conducted in Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese to maximize the access from participants. There were approximately 180 attendees.

On each day, Optometrist Ms. Lily Wall from Eyecare Centre, presented a talk on the importance of seniors regularly checking their eyesight. A free cataracts check with the optometrist was also made available to everyone.

Different types of flower tea, all offering a variety of health benefits were offered on the day. After enjoying the specially prepared healthy lunch and tea, the wellness coordinator demonstrated nine steps for seniors to learn how to get up from the floor safely after a fall both at home and outdoors.

To know more about fall prevention information, or to obtain a copy of ‘Home Safety Checklist’ and/or ‘Shoe Safety Checklist’, please contact Jillian Pan on Ph: 08 9328 3988 or email Jillian.Pan@chungwahcac.org.au

A new report released by Jewish Care and the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation at Monash University outlines the issues facing the community.

Older Jewish Australians represents a first time collation of census data and survey findings, to provide detail and direction for planning.

Professor Andrew Markus, of the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation at Monash University and the report’s lead author, commented that “Australia’s Jewish community has a far higher proportion of people aged 65-84 than the general community and that proportion will increase substantially; for example, Victoria’s Jewish population aged 75-84 is projected to increase from 4,130 in 2021 to 7,469 in 2031 – an 81 percent increase over the decade. This will place significant pressure on the community’s resources and funding.”

The report, the third in the GEN08 project which was established to consider change over the next twenty years, shows clear need for Jewish organisations to work in partnership with one another and with government to create a system that continues to be responsive to the distinctive and diverse needs of the community.

Professor Markus notes that religious and ethnic diversity within the Jewish population raise additional complications for the provision of culturally appropriate care and support.

Download Report

Emmy Monash Aged Care has won a prestigious industry award recognising its innovative arts-based lifestyle project.

The Life Enrichment Project has received a 2011 Better Practice Award from the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency (ACSAA). The Better Practice awards promote and recognise improvement and better practice in aged care homes that succeed in going above and beyond. 

Emmy Monash is one of only 16 national recipients in the Resident Lifestyle category.

Emmy Monash CEO Tanya Abramzon said the award is recognition by the industry for the vital role this holistic program plays in the lives of residents.

“This groundbreaking project is life changing and has broken down so many barriers and stigmas. It is wholly supported by the community which makes the award especially meaningful,” she said.

The ACSAA has more information about the awards as well as the Life Enrichment Project on its website, www.accreditation.org.au and in the October edition of its newsletter, The Standard.

Emmy Monash residents sing with students in the 'Generations in One Voice' Community Choir

Cultural Diversity in Ageing 2012 Conference

7-8 June, 2012 

As Australia’s premier event focusing on cultural diversity in ageing, the Cultural Diversity in Ageing 2012 Conference will provide an opportunity for aged care and related services to explore creative ways of meeting the challenges posed by Australia’s increasingly culturally diverse older population.

The two day event will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 7-8 June 2012. The program will consist of keynote presentations and workshops covering a broad range of specialist fields within the aged care and related sectors. 

The theme for next year’s conference is Stories to Inspire, and will provide delegates with an opportunity to take a unique and creative approach to cultural diversity in ageing, and encourage people to consider the stories of communities, workers, carers, services and of course stories of individuals.

Delegates at the conference will be provided with a broad range of themes associated with the design and delivery of culturally inclusive services and showcasing best practice and innovative service models.

The call for abstracts will open soon. To receive news and updates on conference progress, including key dates, please email info@culturaldiversity.com.au.
 

Centre for Philippine Concerns Australia- Victoria's Multicultural Tastes of Christmas and Information Day

19 December, RSL Dandenong

The 'Multicultural Tastes of Christmas' is a socially inclusive lunch celebration for Filipino seniors, their carers and friends with food for thought from local service providers. Information about carer support, council aged care services, dementia and continence will be shared. This program is supported by HACC, CPP and OMAC.

Contact Luis for more info on Ph: 97918366 or cpcavictoria@gmail.com

 

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The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing is a Victorian-based organisation supporting the aged care sector to address the needs of older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

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Email us at: info@culturaldiversity.com.au