ADEC - Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities

Group Activities Program - Carers Groups

The Group Activities 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 (corner plenty road and garnet street)
175 Plenty Road,
Preston VIC 3072

Cheng Zheng

Vietnamese Carer Support Group                

ADEC

Thuy Cai

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

Thuy Cai

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

Cheng Zheng

Afghan Support Group

Dandenong

Shaima Shahbaz

         
All groups meet on a monthly basis, for further details please contact the Intake Officer 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

FURTHER INFORMATION

Intake 

Intake of clients is centralised through the Intake Officer, who has the responsibility of screening all clients to determine suitability and appropriateness into ADEC programs in accordance with the eligibility criteria. All clients who wish to request use of ADEC programs can do so through telephone, email, in person or in writing. Potential clients can also be referred by service providers or other family members.

This service is available all 3 days of the week (Monday, Wednesday & Friday). Anyone who wishes to inquire about ADEC services can contact the Intake Officer and they will be responded to within 2-3 working days.

If a person is ineligible for the service, the person is referred to another appropriate service provider.

If you would prefer to speak to us in your own language, phone us, leave your name, the language you speak, and your telephone number, and we will contact you through a telephone interpreter service.

ADEC Contact Phone: 03-94801666

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