By:

Working with ethno-specific communities always comes with its own challenges. Cultural and language diversity can often be difficult to comprehend and to accommodate in the existing service system. The relatively small number in some communities can make it difficult to flexibly meet their specific needs, whilst the idiosyncrasies of so many communities can make tailoring services very complex. The majority of mainstream service users remains anglo-saxon. Research has shown that people from migrant backgrounds are under-represented in the use of the formal aged care service system. This is for a variety of reasons, such as a lack of knowledge of the services that are available, a reliance on extended family as the support system, lack of confidence in communicating with mainstream service providers, family responsibilities such as the grandparenting role and social isolation. New and emerging communities are finding the navigation of the existing service system even more difficult. Not only do they have the language barrier but formal aged care services are so far removed from their experiences in their homeland, they find the concept difficult to comprehend, let alone access. The Northern Migrant Resource Centre (NMRC) is working closely with new and emerging communities and other more established migrant communities who are under-represented in the use of aged care services, to explore the reasons for under-representation and to work with these groups to develop models of services which are flexible in meeting their needs and focus on healthy ageing, happiness and wellbeing. The Under-Represented Communities project is innovative because the focus is on prevention, on the strengths of each community, and building on these strengths rather than creating a reliance on the service system. The project also focuses on developing community profiles which are a resource to all mainstream aged care organisations in their service planning and support, including identification of characteristics and differences unique to each community. The presentation will focus on: The uniqueness of each community; Examples of the preventative and innovative approach undertaken; and The success stories that have emerged from the project.

Stream: Disability, Health

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Jo Krizmanic-Wilson has significant experience in the human services sector and has extensive experience working in both community service organisations and state government, including five years at senior management level. Jo has a Bachelor of Behavioural Sciences, a Graduate Diploma in Special Education and a Masters in Disability Studies. Jo has particular experience in the disability sector working towards community inclusive support options for people with a disability. More recently, Jo has commenced working in the Aged Care sector adapting previous knowledge and experience from across the two sectors. In her current role as Aged and Disability Services Manager with the Northern Migrant Resource Centre, Jo has gained specific experience in meeting the needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and designing supports that are flexible and client focused, with a specific focus on language, cultural and religious matching. Jo is part of the senior management team at NMRC and reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

Nirmala Abraham arrived in Australia from India as a skilled migrant along with her family.
She came with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English, history and education and her initial employment included the Ministry of Education, State Revenue, Department of Human Services and the City of Yarra in the administrative field. Her passion for working with migrant communities and individuals in need of support and assistance made her pursue and achieve a social work degree. This led to opportunities of working with Yooralla as a disability worker, St Vincent De Paul, North East Housing, Hume City Council, Kensington Council in London and she currently works with the Northern Migrant Resource Centre. Her work experience at the Northern Migrant Resource Centre has included advocating, supporting and working with newly arrived migrants and underrepresented elderly for housing, health and well being focused activities, and coordinating in home respite hours for the National Respite for Carers Program. Nirmala has also completed one year in Psycho Drama, and is a certified Trauma Therapist from Cairnmillar Institute. She is currently undertaking her Masters through research at RMIT.