Cultural Diversity in Ageing Webinar Series 2024-25

Nikolaus Rittinghausen

Manager, The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing

Nikolaus Rittinghausen is the Manager, The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing. He has significant experience in project management, multicultural affairs, aged care, policy advocacy, social cohesion and community engagement. He represents the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care Alliance at the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Diversity Consultative Committee.

Biljana Grbevska

Project Administration Officer, Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing

Biljana is a creative and passionate project administrator with over 15 years of office experience. Throughout this time, she has supported diverse teams with a range of administration duties. Biljana hosts and produces The Centre's Podcast 'One Size Does Not Fit All.' She also assists with event organising and hosting of the monthly webinars.

Hayat Doughan

Ageing Well Lead, Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria

Hayat Doughan has extensive experience in case management, having worked in settlement services, generalist casework, and family violence prevention. She has also led community inclusion and cultural awareness projects. In her previous role at the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV), Hayat was the project coordinator for "Recognising and Respecting Carers from CALD Backgrounds." Currently, she leads the Seniors Capacity Building and Elder Abuse Prevention projects, focusing on raising awareness among older people about ageing well, safety, and respect.

Gary Ferguson

Education Co-ordinator, Seniors Rights Victoria

Gary has worked in Community Education and Training for the last 25 years and has extensive experience in delivering programs which are accessible and relevant to a diverse groups of adults. In 2008 he joined Seniors Rights Victoria as the Education Co-ordinator and has state-wide responsibility for the delivery of community education to seniors and professional education to the health, community, aged care and associated sectors. Gary works with a wide range of groups including Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) populations and Aboriginal communities and more recently with the older Deaf community. Gary is motivated by his commitment to the human rights of all, especially those who are vulnerable to abuse and mistreatment within a family context. He’s driven to work towards the elimination of ageism in the community so that older people can live with dignity and respect.

Susan Kean

Director, Aged Care Diversity and Inclusion Section, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

Susan is the Acting Director of the Aged Care Diversity and Inclusion Section in the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. She has worked across the Department for over 20 years in various roles across residential and home aged care policy, compliance and program management, health workforce, and in the International Strategies Branch on various trade agreements and briefings for Australian delegations attending World Health Organisation (WHO) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) meetings. Prior to working in the Department, she worked for ACT Health as a GP Liaison Officer and as the Project and Finance Officer in Women and Children's Health at Canberra Hospital. Her current role fulfils her passion to ensure people from diverse backgrounds with varied life experiences can access the person-centred care they need as they age.

Ana Sas

Aged Care Services Manager, Multilink Community Services

Ana is a highly dedicated and skilled professional with over 22 years of experience working in various roles within the Aged Care and Disability sectors. Ana's lived experience both personally and professionally have granted her a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities of adjusting into a new country and new culture. Ana is a true advocate for her consumers and whole heartedly believes that every consumer has the right to safe and quality care, and to live without abuse or neglect.

Henrietta Podgorska

Chief Executive Officer, Umbrella Multicultural Community Care

Henrietta has over nine years of experience in the aged care sector. She has built a notable expertise in fostering engagement and improving accessibility within Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and LGBTIQ+ communities. Her journey includes impactful work in both government and not-for-profit sectors, where she has been instrumental in enhancing service delivery and support for vulnerable populations.

Prof Bianca Brijnath

Divisional Director of Social Gerontology, National Ageing Institute (NARI)

Professor Brijnath is the Divisional Director of Social Gerontology at the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI). Her disciplinary training is in medical anthropology and public health and her research expertise is in cultural diversity, dementia, and mental health. Within these disciplinary and contextual boundaries, she has undertaken several studies on dementia prevention, awareness, diagnosis and care, specific to culturally diverse communities in Australia and internationally. In recognition of her research, she was inducted into the State Government of Victoria's Multicultural Honour Roll in 2022.

Gail Jugow

Education and Training Coordinator, Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI)

Gail entered the aged care career pathway in 2017 as a dementia care coordinator for MCCI and then moved to TAFE NSW under the Ageing Home and Leisure stream as an education support. Returning to MCCI in 2022, Gail continues her passion as an advocate for person centred care and in particular care for older Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people. Gail remains at TAFE as a part time teacher supporting students undertaking the Certificate III in Aged Care. Gail has a Diploma of Dementia Care and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Christine Edgar

Access and Support Officer, Cultura

Christine is an Enrolled Nurse with 45 years experience. She has worked in General and Rehab nursing and based her career in aged care in Residential, Home Care, and Dementia Services. As a Trainer she has trained courses in Community Services, Leisure and Health and Individual Support. In her role under CHSP Specialised Support Services, she works as an Access and Support Officer with culturally diverse communities to provide advisory and support services to clients and families to assist in accessing My Aged Care, Community Home Support Programs, Home and Community Care for Younger People and NDIS.

Vandana Rathore

Program Coordinator, Multicultural Aged Care (MAC)

Vandana is an experienced human services professional, who works as a Program Coordinator at Multicultural Aged Care. Within this capacity she leads coordination and implementation of work plans, monitor service delivery, and ensure reporting compliance for programs like CHSP (SSD & SSG), Care Finder and PICAC. Her responsibilities also include overseeing the corporate services. With a background in public health, she has worked in projects providing techno-managerial support to organisations such as the National Health Mission and the Central Tuberculosis Division in India, as well as The UNION and FIND. Her experience spans across diverse health domains, including Reproductive, Maternal, and Newborn Child Health, Nutrition, Tuberculosis, HIV, and Community Health.

Fiona Nixon

Chief Strategy Officer, Think HQ

Fiona leads Think HQ's strategy and insights team providing guidance and expertise in inclusive communications planning stakeholder engagement to clients and across the agency. She is currently providing executive oversight to the establishment and operation of the Department of Health and Aged Care, Aged Care Translation Service within Think HQ. A passionate communications and sustainability leader, Fiona's career spans the private sector, consultancy and the public sector where she managed communications for social policy portfolios including community development and multicultural affairs. For the past 7 years she has served as a member of the Australia's Committee of Human Rights Watch.

Annabel Reid

CEO, Carers Australia

Annabel is an insightful and strategic leader with over a decade of non for profit executive experience in the healthcare sector. Her expertise spans people leadership, commercial transformation, advocacy, operational excellence, change management, and embracing a culture of learning and growth. Annabel is known for her ability to create purpose-led, member and stakeholder focused teams with a cultural vision of clarity, collaboration, and the courage to move at speed. Annabel has living experience as a carer and understands the challenges associated with juggling work, family and caring responsibilities.

World Wellness Group

World Wellness Group aims to build health equity in the Australian health system. The organisation works collaboratively with stakeholders at all levels in the health and social care sectors via direct health service delivery, research, data-informed training and policy advice. Their Culture Care Program understands that carers in mental health play a crucial role in society and sometimes their needs are not met. Culture Care Program aims to help by listening and providing emotional and psychological support. Their team works with multicultural peer support workers and interpreters to provide language, cultural support and lived experience expertise.

Melanie Metz

Deputy Commissioner, Sector Capability and Regulatory Strategy

Melanie (Mel) joined the Commission in March 2025, bringing deep experience in the public service across aged care, the NDIS, social security, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the National Redress Scheme. Prior to joining the Commission, Mel was the Assistant Secretary of the Aged Care Legislative Reform Branch at the Department of Health and Aged Care, where she led the development of the Aged Care Act 2024. In addition to policy and delivery roles within government, Mel spent 10 years working as in-house counsel and is admitted as a legal practitioner in the Australian Capital Territory. Her passion is social policy, and social care regulation has been a particular focus in her career.

Nikolaus Rittinghausen

Manager, The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing

Nikolaus Rittinghausen is the Manager, The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing. He has significant experience in project management, multicultural affairs, aged care, policy advocacy, social cohesion and community engagement. He represents the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care Alliance at the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Diversity Consultative Committee.

Lisa Tribuzio

Manager, Lotus Consulting

Lisa is a Social Worker who has had 25 years experience in the field of equal opportunity, lobbying to governments to address poverty, social disadvantage, racism and discrimination, and policies which promote oppression of Australian communities. Lisa has worked in the fields of multiculturalism, tertiary, disability and youth and family services and brings with her experience and knowledge working in community welfare, media, local government and the education sectors. She has also travelled through Asia and the Middle East working with human rights organisations promoting cross cultural exchange, education and understanding of human rights. She has a particular focus on the context of communities and how policies as well as cultural norms affect access to services and opportunities. Lisa operates from a humanitarian and community development framework.

Dr Moses G Adepoju

President, Nigerian Senior Citizen Club of Victoria

Dr Moses is the President of the Nigerian Senior Citizen Club of Victoria. His professional journey is marked by his steadfast commitment to human services. In his early years of his career, he worked as a social worker, where he advocated for new and emerging communities, underprivileged families, and individuals in Victoria. He later pursued career in teaching and was involved in several non-profit boards and became actively involved in senior advocacy. He was instrumental in establishing the Nigerian Senior Citizens Club of Victoria and took on various volunteer roles, contributing to program development and member engagement initiatives. He believes in empowering seniors to lead active, fulfilling lives and fostering a sense of belonging and purpose.

Gulghotai (Gula) Bezhan

Founder and CEO, Afghan Women's Organisation Victoria

Gula founded Afghan Women's Organisation Victoria (AWOV) in 2009. Gula established AWOV with a desire to bridge the social, economic and political gaps faced by Afghan women and girls. She has immense passion in working to empower women and girls both in Victoria and Afghanistan. Her 20+ years experience in community work, international aid and her profile as a community leader has enabled her to take a nuanced and effective approach in servicing and supporting the wider community. Gula continues to utilise her platform to advocate, campaign and support Afghan women and girls internationally. Her work has been recognised by UN Women, UNHCR, the Australian Federal and State Governments, Amnesty International, H.E.R Summit and various other international organisations and bodies. Gula extended the efforts of AWOV to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2014 to help empower women and widows through educational and vocational programs at the Afghan Women's Organisation Literacy and Charity Centre.

Barbara Leon

Operations Manager, United Spanish Latin American Welfare Centre

Barbara is a social worker with over 25 years experience in community services settings and not-for-profit sector. She has experience in the areas of community development, project management, case management for individuals and families, specialist youth homelessness services, mental health and counselling, specifically counselling vulnerable population groups including CALD communities and LGBTIQ communities. Barbara is an experienced social worker with skills and knowledge in management, community engagement, change management, advocacy, project planning and evaluation, policy development and adherence to legislative requirements.

Rachael Wass

Chief Executive Officer, Meaningful Ageing Australia

Rachael is the CEO of Meaningful Ageing Australia (MAA), an innovative membership-based organisation dedicated to the social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of older people. Meaningful Ageing members represent a wide range of world views and embrace inclusivity with the key aims of enabling meaning, purpose and connectiveness for all older Australians. Rachael's most important role was a primary carer of an elderly parent for 15yrs and a volunteer in palliative care. Rachael is the Co-Chair of the First Nations Workgroup and Member of National Aged Care Alliance; a Member of Federal Department Health & Ageing Sector Reference Group; Panel member of ACQC’s Consumers and Families Panel; an Advisor for ARIIA Palliative Care Knowledge & Expert Advisory Group; and an Advisory Committee Member of LGBTIQ+Health Silver Rainbow aged care program.

Maureen Shulsinger

Partnership and Community Engagement Manager, Emmy Monash Aged Care

Maureen is a trained physiotherapist and has worked in aged care for over three decades. Maureen’s area of passion is focussing on promoting the full spectrum of wellbeing and the enablement of seniors in residential and community care. For the past twelve years Maureen has managed the Partnership and Community Engagement Program at Emmy Monash Aged Care. Maureen’s focus is on developing a vibrant and diverse lifestyle program. By engaging over 70 volunteers and community partners including schools, synagogues, museums, musical groups and many more, A specific area of interest for Maureen is the delivery of an intergenerational program for residents and school students of all ages with many school and community partners. Furthermore, Maureen spends significant time in developing connections with universities and providing placements opportunities for students of various backgrounds and degrees. Many of the programs at Emmy have been running for over a decade and have received awards, grants and recognition across the community and industry.

Bevan Toerien

General Manager, Spectrum Aged and Disability Services

Bevan is a vital member of Spectrum's Executive Leadership Team. Bevan brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to enhancing aged and disability services. Bevan's journey reflects his unwavering dedication to serving communities and driving organizational excellence. Over the past six years at Spectrum, Bevan's steadfast dedication to empowering others and fostering organizational success, particularly in serving multicultural communities, has been the bedrock of his professional ethos. As the Executive General Manager of Spectrum's Aged and Disability services portfolio, Bevan remains devoted to leveraging his boundless energy and expertise to deliver impactful and unparalleled care to those in need.

Barbara Bailouni

CHSP Respite Coordinator, Polcare

Barbara is a CHSP Respite Coordinator for Polish Community Care Services (Polcare). Barbara's journey with Polcare started in 2016 as a volunteer doing physical activities, after which she joined a Social Support Groups Team as an Activities Worker. Polish Community Care Services Inc. (PCCS), originally Polish Care Services is part of the Polish Community Council of Victoria. Since December 2015, PCCS is a public benevolent organisation providing community-based care and support services to older Polish-Australians and their carers, and people with disability.