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WELCOMEPartnering to Support Greek
Speaking Carers of People with Dementia
Presenters: Betty Kalambokis & Aliki Kyrkou
VCSN – BEST PRACTICE FORUM 19.08.10
UnitingCare Community Options – Agency Overview
UnitingCare Community Options (UCCO) was established in 1987 and works with over 4000 Participants/ Clients per year.
UCCO is auspiced by the Uniting Church We work within both ageing and disability streams. Some of the programs we run include CACP,
EACH,EACHD, Linkages, Flexi packages. In the Eastern region, the Commonwealth Respite
and Carelink Centre operates within the umbrella of UCCO.
Fronditha Care –Agency Overview
Residential Care Five facilities across Victoria and New South WalesCommunity Care 40 Independent Living Units for financially and
socially disadvantaged 125 Community Aged Care Packages Planned Activity Groups 2 Host Homes Other small programs
Project Overview
Funded by the Victorian Department of Health. Collaboratively responding to an identified need for
carers of Greek speaking background. Elements of the project:
- Two information sessions
- Carer Support Group
- Host Home
• Experience in program planning and implementation•Previous experience in Host Home•Strong infrastructure•Bi-lingual and bi-cultural staff•Existing links to the community and established media contacts•Carers of Greek speaking background known to each agency
THE PARTNERSHIP
•Responsible funding allocation•Steering committee•Regular meetings•Clear responsibilities•Collaborative approach in all areas of the Project e.g. documentation•Joint promotion
CARER
SUPPORT
GROUP
HOST
HOME
PROGRAM
Benefits of the partnership- for the target group
Expansion of service provision to the Greek community in the Eastern Region
Responded to an identified service gap A culturally and linguistically sensitive service
response Opened up the scope of support available to
carers Improved access to information
Benefits of the partnership- for the target group cont…
Decrease in social isolation for the carer and care recipient
Peer support and carer empowerment Building of informal networks Building community awareness
Benefits of the partnership- for the partnering agencies
Learnt about each others activities and the communities that each agency supports
Promoted each others activities at various forums
Shared skills and expertise which contributed to professional development
Benefits of the partnership- for the partnering agencies cont…
Refined the understanding of the needs of our Greek speaking clients
Built service provider awareness of the needs of the Greek community in the Region.
Allowed for sustainability beyond the life of the project
Enables the origanisations to engage each other for input into future projects or initiatives.
Reflection
The success of this partnership has been a recognition of each others strengths; our willingness to share resources and information, to achieve a common goal and our capacity to work constructively together based on trust and mutual respect.
Contact Details
Betty Kalambokis – Partnership with Carers WorkerUnitingCare Community OptionsPh: (03) 9239 2500E-mail: [email protected]
Aliki Kyrkou – Community Services ManagerFronditha CarePh: (03) 9495 2308E-mail: [email protected]
