The signing ceremony was supported by the attendance of representatives of Victoria’s Lao, Romanian, Russian-Jewish and Finnish communities.
“The signing of this Accord strengthens Alzheimer’s Australia Vic’s existing relationships with ageing ethnic communities and demonstrates our commitment to providing support to those people with dementia and their families within these communities,” Mr Sach said.
Since it was introduced in 2004, the Victorian Community Accord has been signed by over 50 community groups and organisations.
The purpose of the Accord is for these groups and organisations to demonstrate their commitment to the principles outlined in the Multicultural Victoria Act 2004.
“I commend Alzheimer’s Australia Vic for taking a positive and important step in signing the Community Accord. The organisation is making a clear statement about its resolve not only to recognise and support the Cultural Diversity of its clients, but more importantly, to respond to them in an inclusive and sensitive way,” Mr Lekakis said.
By signing the Accord Alzheimer’s Australia Vic demonstrates its own commitment to the principles of the Accord including to:
- Respect all ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic communities;
- Seek opportunities to work together to re-affirm our similarities as human beings and the fundamental principals which unite us as Victorians;
- Advocate for the elimination of racial and religious intolerance; and
- Reject all forms of racial and religious vilification, violence, harassment and unlawful discrimination.
To coincide with the signing of the Accord, Alzheimer’s Australia Vic released newly developed cultural resources to assist in educating the Lao and Romanian communities about dementia awareness and the services available.
The resources were developed by Alzheimer’s Australia Vic and representatives of the Melbourne Lao and Romanian communities as part of the current Australian Government, Community Partnership Program (CPP).
Through this community consultation process profile documents were developed which are now available for all aged care service providers, about cultural and health issues of concern to ageing Romanians and Laotians and their families in Victoria.
The community resources include:
- Worried about Your Memory? Community Information Pocket Card with simple dementia awareness message and useful contact in Lao and Romanian and English language
- Dementia Help Sheets: Six Dementia Help sheets in Lao and Romanian
- Your Guide to Aged Care and 2010 Directory Assistance: Lao and Romanian community resource; a community information booklet containing information on aged care services, important telephone numbers and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about dementia.
In addition to these resources, the project included the development of Romanian and Lao dementia Community Service Announcements produced for radio which have been distributed to SBS Radio and 3ZZZ to help raise awareness of dementia support services during their respective program times.
“We are very grateful to Alzheimer’s Australia Vic for assisting us in producing these helpful resources to inform our small Lao community. The resources have already been well received by the community.” Jane Vongsay, Secretary for Lao Elderly Association said.
“When we conducted the evaluation of this project with Alzheimer’s Australia Vic the feedback from our community about the Your Guide to Aged Care and 2010 Directory Assistance booklet led to our conclusion that the publication will be very useful for Romanian people living with dementia, carers and their families. The program ran for seven months and we believe the benefits will be long lasting,” Ioan Oanca, Community Partners Program Worker said.
“These new resources will be introduced by these communities within their ageing ethnic groups to assist them in empowering and informing them and their families when making decisions about the choices and services available,” Mr Sach said.
“The signed document will be displayed at our Hawthorn head office where visitors from all Victorian’s ethnic communities will be assured of Alzheimer’s Australia Vic’s ongoing commitment.”
Alzheimer’s Australia Vic is developing a similar set of resources for the Russian-Jewish and Finnish communities.
The Lao and Romanian resources are available by calling the National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500.
For all media enquiries: Christine Bolt 0400 004 553, cbolt@alzvic.asn.au.