AGED CARE & DISABILITY SERVICES

We can help:

• individuals to find the aged care and disability service that best meets their needs.

• service providers with the provision of culturally appropriate services.

• communities to find out more about services and how to access them.

If you would like to speak to us please contact Sharon Porteous on 9275 6905 or email sporteous@miceastmelb.com.au.

For links to INFORMATION for older people or people with a disability in English and other languages click here.

Click on the following links for information about the current Aged & Disability Services programs and projects at the MIC:

• Community Partners Program (CPP)

• HACC - Multicultural Equity and Access Program (MEAP)

• Inner East Social Inclusion Initiative - Mobilising Communities Project

• Inviting Cultural Diversity in Volunteering Project

Community Partners Program (CPP)

The Community Partners Program (CPP) is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing for 2009 until 2012. The main objective of this program is to promote and facilitate increased and sustained access by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to aged care support services. CPP will include the following activities:

• Information sessions for each CALD community to deliver information about aged care services;
• Visits to be arranged for each community to aged care services to understand services;
• Hold cultural celebration days in partnership with aged care providers and CALD communities;
• Develop more translated information packages for CALD communities on respite care;
• Deliver Cultural Briefing sessions for aged care service providers;
• Explore the needs of carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

For further information on this project please contact Linda Tan on 9275 6906 or email ltan@miceastmelb.com.au.

HACC - Multicultural Equity and Access Program (MEAP)

The Multicultural Equity and Access Program (MEAP) aims to develop and implement strategies to improve access to Home and Community Care (HACC) funded services in the Eastern Region for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The MEAP is jointly funded under the HACC program by the Victorian Department of Health and Commonwealth Government.

The MEAP works both with HACC service providers and CALD communities to improve access to HACC services and assist agencies to provide culturally appropriate services. This includes facilitating the HACC CALD Network and delivering the "Understanding people from CALD backgrounds" training program for HACC.

Please click here to view the program details and obtain cultural resources.

Inner East Social Inclusion Initiative - Mobilising Communities Project

The Mobilising Communities Project is a 12 month project that commenced in September 2008. The Project proposes to work with older members of the Cambodian community in the inner east of Melbourne to reduce their experience of social isolation and improve their opportunities for participation in broader community life.

The Project aims to strenghten the Cambodian community by through storytelling, building networks, providing opportunities for social gatherings and recognising the assets of the community.

From October 2009 and the project has been extended until June 2010.

For further information please contact Rebecca Veal on 9275 6903 or email rveal@miceastmelb.com.au.

The Project is part of the Inner East Social Inclusion Initiative. A Leadership for Social Inclusion Program is also part of this initiative through Uniting Care Community Options. The Social Inclusion Initiative is supported by the Inner East Primary Care Partnership and funded by the Victorian Government, City of Whitehorse, Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and Uniting Care.

Inviting Cultural Diversity in Volunteering Project

The "Inviting Cultural Diversity in Volunteering" was completed in August 2008.

The project encouraged organisations to adopt welcoming and inclusive policies and procedures for CALD volunteers; established mechanisms for organisations to share resources; piloted a buddy/mentoring program for CALD volunteers; and highlighted best practice in volunteering for people from CALD backgrounds at a forum in May 2008. The project was funded by Department of Human Services under the HACC program.

Please click here for resources for agencies working with volunteers from a CALD community or seeking to increase the cultural diversity of their volunteer pool.

Links to translated information for older people or people with a disability: