Maria Kladis, Programs Manager, Greek Welfare Centre Thomas Camporeale, Deputy CEO, Co.As.It HACC and Community Care Conference
History of our bi-cultural approach to community care Productivity Commission Report Why the Italian and Greek communities? Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services
Greek welfare Centre NSW ◦ Established in 1975 ◦ HACC; NRCP; CACP; CPP; CVS; Family & Children’s Services; Information, Counselling & Referral; Gambling Program; Drug & Alcohol ◦ Regional and sessional services ◦ GWC Community Services Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services
Co.As.It. ◦ Established in 1968 ◦ Community Services: HACC; CACP; EACH; CPP; CVS; Youth Worker; Mental Health Program, Information, Counselling & Referral; Gambling Program; Drug & Alcohol, Brokerage and user-pays care. ◦ Language Services: Italian Bilingual School; Italian education to 20,000 children and adults in NSW Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services
Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services 70+ DataItalianGreek NSW (Speakers)16, 53312, 582 National (Speakers)83, 93041, 284
Access and Equity Charter for Cultural Diversity Aged Care Policy Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services
FECCA and the policy of multiculturalism Social Justice Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services
Bilingual and Bicultural approach Listening Role of the family Role of interpreters One size does not fit all Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services
Understanding a person’s context Take the time to stop and listen Building rapport and trust We need to blur the boundaries! Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services
‘Type casting’ Sense of guilt for family members Unfamiliar concept about seeking ‘help’ outside of the family Loss of independence often means shame and stigma Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services
Migration history and impact on ageing creates a ‘way of being’, Individuals can be displaced – where do they ‘belong’? Unfamiliar with the ageing process in their home countries Lack of awareness of cultural norms and values (two-way) Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services
Move beyond competency based training Cultural awareness seminars are only part of the answer Do not lump all CALD groups together How do we ‘teach’ culture? How do we remain authentic to our philosophy of ‘person-centered’ care? Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services
Keep the client at the centre of care Build a relationship of trust and mutual respect Try to understand what it means culturally for the individual to connect Each person is individual Culture is at the heart of how we experience the world Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services
Communities are getting older – time is now Service providers have competencies – this should include care to particular groups Ageing as a unique experience for CALD communities Bring back the ethno-specifics Partnership – not just MOUs that look good but for advice and service provision Brokerage We can help with language services Greek Welfare Centre GWC Community Services