NEWS ABOUT AGEING, DISABILITY AND CARERS
10 July 2009
(You can download this bulletin as a Word document at the end of the text)
COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS OR INFORMATION SESSIONS
1. Can Healthy Food be Tasty? NEW
Multicultural Health Communication Services (MHCS) - NSW Health, in association with Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI) have completed the 'ethnic cook off' competition, a campaign to increase awareness of physical activity and healthy eating guidelines amongst CALD communities.
For more information about diabetes or cooking traditional meals using healthy alternatives,
Contact Jess Helaratne or Germana Morassi
E: jesusa.helaratne@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
T: 9816 0347
2. Australian Institute of Family Studies - Grandparents & Granchildren NEW
The Australian Institute of Family Studies is currently undergoing research on Grandparents with Grandchildren whose parents have separated as part of the Family Law Reform Evaluation currently being undertaken on behalf of the Australian Government.
The study focuses on the impact that parental separation has upon the relationship grandparents have with their grandchildren and is designed to bring the 'voices' of grandparents into the evaluation by examining, from their perspective, a number of issues that specifically relate to grandparents when families separate.
The main criteria would be that grandparents have at least 1 grandchild currently aged between 2-10 years old whose parents separated between January 1 2004 and 31 December 2008.
COTA NSW is interested in working with the AIFS to organize two focus groups in Sydney. A tentative date of Tuesday 28th July has been set with start times of 10am- 12midday and 1pm- 3pm. At present we are looking for expressions of interest from possible participants.
Need to have some feedback by 14th July to know if the Sydney focus groups will be feasible.
For more information,
Contact Carolyn Hodge, COTA NSW
E: Carolyn.Hodge@cota.nsw.com.au
T: 9286 3860
In the meantime, you may also like to see further information about AIFS at http://www.aifs.gov.au/ and about the Grandparents Study specifically at http://www.aifs.gov.au/familylawevaluation/grandparents.
3. Australian Disability Parking Scheme Consultation NEW
Parking privileges disabled
From: The Daily Telegraph June 26, 2009
PEOPLE with severe disabilities may have to pay for parking as a result of a crackdown on motorists abusing free parking permits.
Under the Federal Government's plan to nationalise the disability parking scheme, those with serious medical conditions may be denied free permits. The planned changes would make it harder for people with disabilities, including those who rely on walking sticks, to qualify for the permits. Click here to read the full article on the website Alternatively, you can copy and paste this link into your browser: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25691560-5001021,00.html
The discussion paper is available from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/progserv/people/disability_parking_scheme/Pages/default.aspx .
The paper is also available in other formats at www.fahcsia.gov.au or by contacting 1800 630 740.
Please note that the paper includes a form to enable you to provide feedback about the proposed scheme. Submissions will be accepted until 31 July 2009 and a summary of the feedback received will be available on the FaHCSIA website later in the year.
4. Members for COTA NSW Consumer Forum - Expression of Interest NEW
COTA NSW is establishing a Consumer Forum to raise issues of concern in the ageing landscape and provide input, suggestions, and feedback on policies and advocacy activities.
Consumers should be aged 50+ and have an interest in sharing their experiences and views which can be developed into policy positions for COTA NSW.
The Consumer Forum will meet quarterly for 2 hours and canvass issues of concern to consumers, provide input into submissions and consultations and provide advice for COTA's policy work. Like other COTA Working Groups, the Consumer Forum will feed into the Policy Council areas for further policy and advocacy for COTA NSW. From time to time the Consumer Forum may be approached to canvass issues for government or private service providers.
For more information,
Contact Carolyn Hodge, COTA NSW
E: Carolyn.Hodge@cota.nsw.com.au
T: 9286 3860
5. Information on Electricity & Gas Price Rises NEW
Electricity and gas prices increased in NSW as of 1 July 2009. If you have payment difficulties
Contact Energy Australia
T: 13 15 35
SAMPLE OF FUNDED SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR
OLDER PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY & THEIR CARERS FROM
CULTURALLY & LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS
1. Community Care Services for Arabic Community
The partnership between Kincare Tripoli and Mena Association enables Kincare to respond to the religious, cultural and care needs of the Arabic Muslim elderly and work towards reducing barriers that the Arabic elderly face when accessing services.
For more information contact: Tripoli & Mena 9758 1366
Kincare 1300 733 510
2. TeleCross
FREE service where a trained Red Cross volunteer makes a short, friendly telephone call to a Telecross client to ensure that they are safe and well.
Who benefits Elderly and people with disabilities to maintain their independence, thereby improving quality of life and reducing the necessity to move into residential care
Information in Arabic, Cantonese, Croatian, German, Greek, Italian, Maltese, Polish, Russian, Spanish,
For more information contact: Telecross Coordinator T: 9229 4222
3. Carer Assist Services for people of Indian background
Carer Assist has Carer Advocates who provide individual support services and education and training for carers and families of someone with a mental illness within the boundaries of three Area Health Services:
Who benefits Carers of people with a mental illness gain Information, Education, Advocacy and Support
Website: http://www.sfnsw.org.au/Carer/Carer-Assist-Home/default.aspx
Tel: Belmore 9750 9744 Campbelltown 4620 5255
4. Disability Terms - Fact Sheets*
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA) and Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) released a set of fact sheets explaining disability terms in Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Dar, Dinka, Farsi, Indonesian, Korean, Macedonian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese.
- Useful when translating information into the specific language
Website http://www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au/dadhc/People+with+a+disability/Disability+Terms+-+Fact+Sheets.htm
OR CONTROL + CLICK to follow the link
Disability Terms - Arabic Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Chinese Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Croatian Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Dari Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Dinka Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Farsi Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Indonesian Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Korean Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Macedonian Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Serbian Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Spanish Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Turkish Fact sheet
Disability Terms - Vietnamese Fact sheet
* Hindi fact sheet under review
5. Eastern Sydney Day Program (Botany) T: 8337 3600
Day Program for people with disabilities offering opportunities for community participation and meaningful leisure and recreational activities.
Contact: Windgap Foundation
W: www.windgap.com.au
6. Greek Welfare Centre T: 9516 2188
Aged Day Care services for Chinese, Greek and Russian frail aged persons who live in Botany Bay, Randwick, Sydney, Waverley or Woollahra Local Government Area.
SAMPLE OF IMPORTANT RESOURCES FOR OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY
1. Alzheimer's Australia T: 9805 0100
http://www.alzheimers.org.au
Dementia information in a range of languages in different formats.
2. Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association - MDAA T: 9891 6400
http://www.mdaa.org.au/publications/openingdoors.html
Opening Doors: A collaborative resource that talks about disability within a cultural context from a consumer perspective.
3. Parent Line T: 1300 1300 52
24/7 confidential telephone counselling, information and referral service for parents and carers of children aged 0 to 18 years, who live in New South Wales with access to Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, French, German and Spanish counsellors.
W: www.parentline.org.au
E: info@parentline.org.au
4. Disability Terms - Fact Sheets
[see above]
5. CountryLink pensioner booking abolished
http://www.premier.nsw.gov.au/Newsroom/Articles/2009_Articles/090610_CountryLink_pensioner_booking_fee_abolished.html
Extract from the Sydney Morning Herald, 10 June 2009
"From 1 July there will be no more $10 booking fee for pensioners on CountryLink Services," Mr Rees said. "That means that pensioners will be able to use regular economy class CountryLink services free of charge up to four times a year". Pensioners choosing to use their free vouchers for first class tickets will still pay the booking fee in the form of a surcharge as it is a premium service.
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITY WORKERS & AGENCIES
1. Metro South Needs Analysis of People with Dementia & their Carers
Consultation with Service Providers - KEEP THIS DATE FREE
When Tue, 21 July from 2-4 PM
Where Bankstown Area Multicultural Network, Ste 501, Compass Ctr, Bankstown
Who Alt Beatty Consulting, contracted by Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care
If you are unable to attend one of these discussions, please send any comments to Merilyn Alt (malt@bigpond.net.au), Elizabeth Rowe (elizabethrowe@optusnet.com.au) or Carrie Hayter (carrieh@iprimus.com.au) by Wednesday 10th August 2009.
2. Frail older men and HACC services - research project
Consultation held on 21 May 2009 but will follow up for access to findings which promise to be useful for a range of services.
Who University of Western Sydney contracted by Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care
Dr Anni Gethin E: agethin@uws.edu.au, T: 4758 7151, M: 0420 311 020
3. Briefing & Consultation for Respite and Social Support Providers
Consultation held on 25 May 2009 with Providers to update the industry on key projects and initiatives, and solicit feedback on concepts and development of these projects.
More information?
Contact Kevin at 0417 273 889 or kevinm@interchangensw.com.au
4. Alzheimer's Australia
http://www.alzheimers.org.au
A resource kit outlining dementia perceptions in Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese communities.
5. Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association - MDAA T: 9891 6400
http://www.mdaa.org.au/publications/ethnicity/specificommunities.html
Link to good resource that aims to respond to those vexing questions about communicating with people with disabilities from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
6. Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA) T: 9840 3333
W: www.mmha.org.au
Stepping Out of the Shadows: Reducing Stigma in Multicultural Communities
... a stigma reduction training kit and audio series launched on 19 Feb. 2009
7. Disability Terms - Fact Sheets [see above]
SAMPLE OF TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY WORKERS, AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY
1. Conferences
Multicultural Access Project Network Conference - 16 July 2009
Registration is now complete but if you still want to attend & you're a relevant service provider,
Contact: Caroline at hacc@eccnsw.org.au
Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care - 25-26 Aug 2009
Connecting our Community: working with consumers in a changing environment
http://www.agedservices.asn.au/cgi-bin/WebObjects/ASA2.woa/wa/subcat?s=2000396
2. Community Aged Care Workforce - FREE training
FREE training under the Community Aged Care Workforce Development Program
More information? Judy Stretton T: 6289 4159
3. All you want to know about Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Training: All day and ½ day sessions that cover
Contact: Brain Injury Association of NSW T: 9868 5261 W: www.biansw.org.au
4. Disability Seminars @ UNSW's Disability Studies & Research Centre
12.30 - 1.30pm
Contact 9385 9908 E: dsrc@unsw.edu.au
For more information about Home & Community Care Services contact :
Caroline Romeo
Ethnic Communities' Council of NSW
Home & Community Care (HACC) Multicultural Access Program (MAP) Officer
T: 9319 0288
E: hacc@eccnsw.org.au
W: www.eccnsw.org.au

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