Welcome to the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing 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.

The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing hosted the highly successful Cultural Diversity in Ageing 2012 Conference: Stories to Inspire at the Melbourne Convention Centre on 7-8 June 2012, with over 250 people in attendance across the 2 days of the event.

Opening with keynote addresses from Sharon Davis from Frontier Services in the Northern Territory and Pino Migliorino from FECCA, the first day also included a panel discussion with The Hon Susan Ryan AO, Australia’s Age Discrimination Commissioner; Beth Wilson, Victoria’s Health Services Commissioner and Michael Gorton AM, former board member of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Arnold Zable followed with a popular discussion on the healing power of stories.

An address by the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing the Hon Mark Butler MP outlined the government’s ‘Living Longer, Living Better’ aged care reform package and provided an opportunity for delegates to question the Minister on future directions for policies related to older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

A range of concurrent sessions were held over the two days on topics including healthy ageing and nutrition, carer perspective and support, culturally inclusive service delivery, research and aged care workforce diversity. Workshops hosted by Arnold Zable and Karen Thode from Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service also proved to be popular with delegates.

Speakers embraced the Conference theme of ‘Stories to Inspire’ and delivered powerful and personal examples of best practice and unique initiatives that are working to provide inclusive care to those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

A moving speech by Dr Olga Kanitsaki AM on her achievements throughout her remarkable career closed the Conference, along with the announcement of a new award in her honour to recognise individuals and organisations working to improve culturally inclusive care.

The Conference was made possible by our major sponsors Polaron and beyondblue, and sponsors Benetas, Australian Multicultural Community Services, Kalyna Care and Continence Foundation of Australia.

Speaker Presentations


Photo Gallery

Arnold Zable

Ljubica Petrov, Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing addresses delegates

Nadereh Edwards and Shemiran Gevergizyan, Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre, Sasha Jovanovic, and Tonina Gucciardo-Masci, Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing

Cultural Recognition
Aged Care Management, May/June 2012

Australian Bureau of Statistics has annouced the first release of data from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing. Core demographic data is available through the online Census products such as QuickStats and Community Profiles.

For an overview of cultural diversity in Australia, read the 'Reflecting a Nation: Stories from the 2011 Census' article.

Visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics website for more information.

Translating and Interpreter Service (TIS) National have announced a new online form for booking interpreter requests.

There are several benefits to using the online forms to submit your interpreter booking requests to TIS National including:

• Interpreter booking request is conveniently accessible and quick to complete.
• Ensures all of the information currently required by TIS National to process your request is included.
• Automatically records all request details in TIS National's systems, ensuring no manual entry errors are made.
• Helps TIS National's systems work efficiently, assisting booking officers to promptly register and process requests.

The Onsite and Telephone Interpreter Booking Forms can be accessed from the TIS National website.

The holy month of Ramadan commences for Muslims in Australia on Friday 20 July, and is a time for Muslims worldwide to fast from dawn until dusk.

A religious tradition dating back to 624 AD, Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam that every Muslim must endeavour to observe or fulfil. It involves abstaining from food, drink, smoking and other pleasures to achieve greater self-discipline, self-purification and compassion for those less fortunate.

Each day, the fast commences with an early breakfast an hour or two before dawn. The fast is broken at sundown, and due to the different lunar sightings in different regions around the world, fasting dates and times vary from country to country, and change each day.

Ramadan concludes this year on Saturday 18 August in Australia. Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the feasting month, and Muslims are obliged to pay a prescribed amount of money to the poor and disadvantaged. It also includes Eid prayers in the morning, festive meals, gift giving and visiting family, friends, the sick and the elderly. 
Information sourced from the Islamic Council of Victoria (www.icv.org.au)

The Cancer Council Australia has launched a website to assist Australians from linguistically diverse backgrounds to access cancer information in their own language.

The Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Cancer Resource Directory is a searchable online library of 600 publications, videos and websites and provides a wide range of information including cancer prevention, treatment and support in 50 different languages.

Cancer Council Australia CEO Professor Ian Olver said the directory was designed to provide a single point of access to cancer resources in Australia published in languages other than English. “Cancer doesn’t discriminate by culture,” Olver said.

CALD Patient Support Coordinator Anna Epifanio said the site itself was in English, but provided information in a range of languages including Arabic,Chinese, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, and Vietnamese.

Visit the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Cancer Research Directory

On June 29th the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing teamed up with Gippsland Palliative Care Consortium and Gippsland Multicultural Services to present the Delivering Culturally Inclusive Palliative Care Workshop. The workshop, held at the Italo-Australian Club in Morwell, was attended by 45 aged care professionals working across the South Gippsland region.

The full day program began with an overview of current palliative care practice presented by Mary Ross-Heazlewood from Gippsland Palliative Care Consortium. Ljubica Petrov from the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing followed with a presentation on the issues affecting the palliative care of older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and challenges for palliative care service providers. Tonina Gucciardo-Masci, also from the Centre, then delivered a session exploring culturally inclusive practices in person centred care. The after- lunch session was dedicated to group work where participants explored strategies and initiatives which they could apply to their own work practices and organisations.

Feedback from participants was very positive and included comments such as: “I found the practical exercises, stories and examples shared by the speakers valuable. The information was current, dynamic and epitomised the philosophy of human services”; “I found this training very interesting and enjoyable”; “Great workshop, I am hoping to put together a kit of resources for the staff and manager” and “Great day very informative and entertaining!”.

Ljubica Petrov, Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing, Jude Hewathanthrige, Gippsland Multicultural Services, Mary Ross-Heazlewood, Gippsland Palliative Care Consortium and Tonina Gucciardo-Masic, Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing

CareConnect launched a new community-based services booklet and audio CD for Turkish and Macedonian seniors titled ‘What Service Can I Get’ on July 10 at an event in Sunshine, Victoria.

The bilingual booklets and CDs are aimed at supporting Turkish and Macedonian seniors living in the Western Metropolitan Region of Victoria to live independently at home and in the community. The initiative was funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing as part of the Community Partners Program.

The booklet will be distributed to community leaders and centres throughout the Western Metropolitan Region of Victoria, and hardcopies of the booklets and CDs are available by calling CareConnect on 03 9362 8000, or from their website in the coming weeks.

Attendees and staff at the CareConnect resource launch with the 'What Services Can I Get?' booklets

Benetas have launched their Happy Eating Project to improve the lives of older people from Italian, Greek and Macedonian speaking backgrounds who receive Benetas care services.

Addressing an identified need for relevant and culturally-appropriate information about dementia in Victorian communities, the project aims to reduce any stigma associated with dementia by demonstrating respect for the person while also providing helpful information for carers.

The strategies are available on the Benetas website.

For more information, contact Lynne Centner on 03 8823 7900.

Lynne Centner and Paula Trood from Benetas at the' Happy Eating Project' launch

Written by Fatma Faruk, Australian Turkish Association

Australian Turkish Association Inc. (ATA) celebrated the success of the Community Partners Program (CPP) 2009-2012 during a launch held on the 3rd of July at the Australia Western Thrace Turkish Association.

The launch was attended by over 100 people from the Turkish community as well as honourable guests, representatives from the Department of Health and Ageing and project partners.

The aim was to launch two community resources produced as part of the CPP project namely, Turkish Cross-Cultural Guide- a resource for aged care workers and Ageing Well DVD.

CPP Officer, Mrs. Betul Kinali presented the numerous CPP activities that have taken place all across Melbourne, including a community education campaign for the Turkish speaking elderly and their families around options in aged care, and cross-cultural briefings for aged care staff and management across different aged care facilities.

The Ageing Well DVD was screened and captured the real life stories of a number of Turkish elderly families in their journey accessing aged care support services. The DVD provided an opportunity for the Turkish community members to voice their concerns as well as satisfaction with the aged care services and is informative as well as educational.

The Turkish Cross-Cultural Guide was provided for all attendees. This reading resource was produced for aged care support service providers and aged care workers to introduce the Turkish culture and advance the understanding of the special needs of Turkish elderly in aged care environments.

To enquire about the Ageing Well DVD and/or Turkish Cross-Cultural Resource Guide, please contact ATA on 03 9583 4744 or mobile 0414 597 872.

Betul Kinali, Fatma Faruk, and Mr. Nazmi Kaya from the Australian Turkish Association

Written by Antonios Maglis, Australian Greek Welfare Society

In May 2012, AGWS Community Partners Program organised a workshop for 30 elderly and their carers in the Greek Orthodox Community of Geelong. AGWS in collaboration with Diversitat Geelong responded to the needs of the Greek elderly and their carers by cofacilitating with Carers Victoria a skills training workshop.  

The workshop explored issues on carer’s fatigue, stress, anxiety, and provided practical strategies on caring for yourself. All participants stated that the workshop made a positive difference in their lives. Participants stated that as a result of the workshop they have a clearer understanding about what constitutes a carer. Most were not aware that they are carers prior to participating in this workshop. They were caring for a loved one as part of their family duties, love and commitment. AGWS supports the isolated Greek elderly and their carers especially the ones living in regional areas by fostering, enhancing and maintaining the valuable partnerships and collaborations with regional aged care services.

Carers asked numerous questions on availability of services specifically in the Geelong region, as well as interpreters, Greek specific services such as carer’s respite and volunteer program and English classes. There’s a lot of confusion due to the lack of English on behalf of carers and their difficulty in navigating the complex system of services. Majority of carers were not aware about carers payments and entitlements. Also most didn’t know what services and supports exist for them and how to access them. Diversitat Geelong will follow up with this group and organise another extensive session.

If you are a service provider and would like our support in reaching out to your local Greek speaking community please contact AGWS on 03 9388 9998.

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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