Multicultural Carer and Disability Support Program

The Multicultural Carers’ and Disability Support Program offers a unique social support opportunity for carers and care recipients. The program was established eight years ago with only two language groups. In 1997, the program grew to include five groups in five ethno specific languages located in the Northern Region. Since its expansion in 2001, the program has grown considerably to include seven ethno specific languages (Arabic, Turkish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek and Afghan). ADEC now runs 12 language specific Carers’ support groups.

A break down of carers’ groups across two regions is shown below.

Northern Metropolitan region

Group	Location	Facilitator
Chinese Carer Support Group	ADEC, 175 Plenty Road, Preston 3072	Wallace Leung
Vietnamese Carer Support Group	ADEC	Chau Tran
Arabic Carer Support Group	ADEC	Samia Mina
Arabic group for people With special needs	ADEC	Samia Mina
Turkish Carer Support Group	ADEC	Hacer Tuncel
Italian Carer Support Group	ADEC	Stephanie Merazzi
Greek Carer Support Group	ADEC	Effie Meehan

Southern Metropolitan Region

Group	Location	Facilitator
Vietnamese Carer Support Group	Springvale Neighborhood House, 46-50 Queens Ave, Springvale	Chau Tran
Turkish Carer Support Group	Springvale	Hacer Tuncel
Arabic Carer Support Group	Springvale	Samia Mina
Chinese Carer Support Group	Dandenong Health Centre, 229 Thomas Street Dandenong	Wallace Leung
Afghan Support Group	Dandenong	Shaima Shahbaz
Turkish Support Group	Dandenong	Hacer Tuncel

All groups meet on a monthly basis, for further details please contact the Program Coordinator or the Group Facilitator on 94801666

Program Structure
The program consists of a Coordinator and Bi-lingual workers (Group Facilitators). The main duties of Group Facilitators are to:

Organise and facilitate regular group meetings and activities
Provide information to individuals and accept new referrals for new members
Promote the program by utilising personal skills and community involvement.
Form linkages between groups and relevant services
Promote the program by utilizing ethnic Media
Document carers’ issues that arise during regular meetings.

Partnerships
Partnerships are one of the most successful methods in order achieve targets and complement relevant services. The program has developed very successful partnerships with services providers across all regions.

Program objectives

To encourage participation of people from ethnic backgrounds in existing support/recreation services.
To facilitate the development of an informal support network for carers from ethnic backgrounds and care recipients.
To increase members’ knowledge on disability, recreation and support services.
To support carers from ethnic backgrounds and care recipients and address the issue of isolation and difficulties in access and integration of existing disability support services.
To facilitate the empowerment of carers and people with a disability.

Aims of groups

To provide information, education, support and skills to carers to support their roles as carers in the community.
To provide the program in an integrated manner in order to link carers and care recipients to local and broader services.
To continue to provide and facilitate the development of flexible recreational respite opportunities.

Groups’ outcomes

Encourage carers and families to access planned respite services
Promote the concept of “carer” within the ethnic communities
Increase the participation rates in disability and respite services
Provide formal/informal learning or training on issues identified by carers
Encourage carer involvement in preparing plans of activities
Empower carers and care recipient as one step to bring them about change

Multicultural Carer and Disability Support Program Brochures

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you would like any further information about the Multicultural Carers’ and Disability Support program, please contact:

Laurice Demian
Multicultural Carers’ and Disability Support Coordinator
Phone: (03) 9480 1666
Fax: (03) 9480 3444
Email: laurice@adec.org.au

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