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Aged and Disability Programs

Catchments: Western Region (Links on this page)
HACC Ethnic Equity & Access Program :: Ethnic Disability Advocacy ::
Multicultural Friendly Visiting Program :: HACC Bilingual Workforce Project::
HACC New & Emerging Communities Project:: Diversity & Disability Program ::

The following are linked to the support page
Turkish Elderly Support Group :: German Speaking Support Group ::
Coptic Elderly Suuport Program :: Indian & Sri Lankan Elderly Group ::
Lao Elderly Support Program :: African Senior Mens Program ::
East Timorese Elderly Support Program :: Hungarian Elderly Support Program ::
Bosnian Elderly Support Program ::

AGED AND DISABILITY SERVICES

The Aged and Disability Programs share a common goal to increase the access for people from diverse backgrounds to support services and participation in a fulfilling and active life within the Australian community. 

The program recognizes that many people from diverse backgrounds do not have adequate knowledge of the service systems available to provide support to maintain independence nor do they have access to a broad social support network.

The program recognizes that concepts of care have differing implications in many cultures and that quality care must respond to the diversity of the consumer.

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HACC Ethnic Equity and Access Program

Contact
HACC Ethnic Access and Equity Coordinator: St Albans Office, 9367 6044 mrcnw@mrcnorthwest.org.au

• In the Western Area of the North Western Region, the Equity and Access Program
• Works to improve service delivery to CALD elderly, people with disabilities and carers. 
• Raises community and service provider awareness of unmet need by representing and advocating for the HACC target groups in forums such as the PCP, Aged Services Network and local government. 
• Assists HACC funded agencies in the West to develop annual cultural action plans and provides research and policy development in this area. 

The Ethnic Service Network is resourced by this program enabling the continuation of a service development, advocacy and planning network comprising of 27 ethno specific service providers in the West and Northern regions.

Catchment
The service covers the local government areas of Brimbank, Melton, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and Melbourne City Councils.

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Description
The program aims to increase the social and support networks of isolated older people and younger people with a disability and their carers. The program achieves this by establishing an ongoing relationship with a volunteer through a friendly visiting program. The programis also able to link clients to council service or local community group. 

The Multicultural Friendly Visiting Program relies on volunteers to provide one or two hours of companionship a week to the elderly or disabled clients or their carers. The volunteers are matched with clients on the basis of similar interests, hobbies and personalities and may engage in a variety of activities with the clients including shopping, walking, cinema, or simply chatting. 

The service does not provide home help but rather encourages and provides the opportunity for socially isolated people to participate in community life by providing companionship, friendship and assistance.

Eligibility
The service is available to clients who are frail and aged or who have a disability. Clients must be identified as having a CALD background and be interested in being matched with a volunteer.
NB where an enthnospecific program exists, clients will be given the option to use that service.

Catchment
The service covers the local government areas of Brimbank, Melton, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and Melbourne City Councils.

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Contact
Regional Ethnic Disability Advocate, St Albans Office, 9367 6044, mrcnw@mrcnorthwest.org.au

Description
The Ethnic Disability Advocacy Program provides professional individual and systemic advocacy services for people with a disability from CALD communities, their carers and families.

Individual advocacy assists clients to access disability and support services they want in a way that is suitable for their needs. Community education and information on understanding disability and support services is also provided to clients, carers and families. 

A systemic advocacy service is provided via consultancy to service providers and government agencies. We provide advice on matters relating to how best to service the needs of CALD communities. We also work closely with government departments and providers to identify inadequacies in service models and policies.

The program also supports CALD community groups to identify and develop opportunities for having a greater say on how disability and support services should be planned and delivered to CALD communities.

Eligibility
Children, young people, adults with a disability, carers and families.

Catchment
The service covers the local government areas of Brimbank, Melton, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and Melbourne City Councils.

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HACC New & Emerging Communities Project

Contact
New and Emerging Communities Project Worker, St Albans Office, 9367 6044, mrcnw@mrcnorthwest.org.au

Description
This project aims to improve access to mainstream Home and Community Care (HACC) services for people elderly people from New and Emerging Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities (CALD).

The project will work closely with local Council HACC workers and new and emerging communities to develop partnerships, share information and create a greater appreciation of the issues faced by people from these communities. The outcomes of partnerships developed aims to lead to an increase in the usage of home and community care services from CALD communities.

Catchment
The service covers the local government areas of Brimbank, Melton, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham and Melbourne City Councils.

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HACC Bilingual Workers Project

Contact
HACC Bilingual Workers Project Worker, St Albans Office, 9367 6044, mrcnw@mrcnorthwest.org.au

Description
This demonstration pilot project aims to increase the number of bilingual HACC direct care workers in Local Government, so that the needs of existing elderly CALD consumers might be met in culturally responsive ways.

The project is implementing a number of strategies to increase the number of bi lingual workers available to deliver HACC basic services in the western region. Strategies have involved collaboration with Local Government, Ethno specific services and training providers

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Diversity and Disability Program

Contact
Co-ordinator Diversity and Disability, St Albans office, 9367 6044, dnd@mrcnorthwest.org.au

Description
The program aims to provide self advocacy support to people with a disability from CALD backgrounds to speak for themselves and achieve full potential as citizens of the community. 

The program assists participants with acquiring the necessary skills for self-advocacy outcomes. Enhancing consumer representation at local, regional and national forums is also an important aim. Another aim of the program is to connect CALD communities and service providers to assist in creating attitudinal changes. The program also engages with policymakers in the multicultural and disability sector in relation to policy development in this area.

This project is currently auspiced by MRCNW with a view to independence in the coming years.

Catchment
Statewide, however the project is in development stages and at the moment is building the program in the West and Geelong area.

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