Conference papers and presentations

Plenary Session

Welcome from ADEC

Licia Kokocinski (Executive Director – ADEC)

Click here to download the welcome address

Opening address

Ms Liz Beattie MP, Parliamentary Secretary assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs

Click here to download the opening address

Keynote Speaker 1

Cultural Attitudes Toward Mental Health

Associate Professor Harry Minas

(paper not available)

Keynote Speaker 2

Suicide in older adults from CALD backgrounds

Associate Professor Brian Draper

Click here to download the presentation by Assoc Prof Brain Draper

Keynote Speaker 3

Being old out of place: Wellbeing of the refugee elderly in a resettlement context

Professor Sandy Gifford

Click here to download the presentation by Prof Sandy Gifford

Concurrent Session 1

What are CALD elderly communities saying about mental health issues - Implications for policy and research.

Presented by Georgia Zogalis, National Program Manager, Multicultural Mental Health Australia

There were two key issues that emerged during this workshop. The first was the urgent need for more research into mental health problems within the elderly CALD population, as there is currently a limited knowledge of appropriate treatment options and diagnoses for this population group. The second issue was that whilst there are many policies in this area, there is a need to focus on converting policy initiatives into effective service provision.

A number of key recommendations emerged during this workshop. These were:

  • That a research agenda is developed to prioritise what research is needed.

  • That organisations work collaboratively with CALD communities to encourage prevention and early intervention before people reach mental health services.

  • That partnerships are created between aged care services and mental health services rather than in their separate silos

  • That CALD consumers and carers are meaningfully involved in the process

  • That cultural training is mainstreamed into general training on mental health

Click here to download the presentation by Georgia Zogalis

Concurrent Session 2

Primary Health - Assessment, Referral and Effective Case Management.

Panel discussion comprised of primary health care representatives and practitioners facilitated by Phillip Bain, Northern Division of GPs

One of the key issues addressed was the use of interpreters in assessment, referral and case management. Caring for patients from non-English speaking backgrounds is not easy for practitioners, with some patients preferring to use family members to interpret due to confidentiality, while others prefer the use of professional interpreters. Although, it is best practice to use an interpreter, the problem of locating the right interpreter still remains. At other times when interpreters are used, they are not always useful, discouraging the use of interpreters at future consultations.

Practitioners also found that the patients from non-English speaking backgrounds prefer to use bilingual health professionals, because of the direct communication between the patient and the practitioner.

The Northern Division of GPs recommended that practitioners need to be flexible in treating patients, and to promote the culture of using interpreters, such as including the use of interpreters in practitioner’s KPI. They further recommended that there needs to be more bilingual health professionals to meet patient needs.

Click here to download the presentation by Barbara Hill, Western Region Health Centre

Click here to download the presentation By George Osman, North Western Mental Health

Click here to download the presentation by Dr. Ralph Audehm

Concurrent Session 3

Research translation - Findings on resilience and coping with trauma from the elderly Polish community.

Presented by Helen Evert, Research Fellow, University of Melbourne

One of the key issues raised in this session is that suffering and trauma can be experienced, not only at the individual level, but also at the family and community level. And thus, resources and healing were not only the responsibility of the individual but also of the family and community. This suggests the greater need to consider family and community as resources in the healing process.

Click here to download the presentation by Helen Evert

Concurrent Session 4

Developing Successful Partnerships.

Case Study of The CAN-DLE Project, a project partnership involving Uniting Aged Care and Alzheimer's Australia Vic that focuses on support for carers of people with dementia from CALD backgrounds

This session highlighted the benefits and challenges to partnerships. Partnerships were highlighted as an excellent way to develop projects as it enabled the sharing of resources; the promotion of each organisation; and could lead to increased referrals. However, there are also challenges relating to partnerships, including potential doubling up of resources, control over project, and that the building of partnerships across regions takes time.

Click here to download the presentation by Alzheimer’s Australia Vic

Click here to download the presentation by Uniting Aged Care

Plenary Session

The Way Forward - Setting the agenda for the future

Panel discussion involving the 3 keynote speakers facilitated by Maria Dimopoulos of Myriad Consultants

The report from this session is currently being compiled and will be available on this website shortly.

Closing address

Dr. Helen Szoke, Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission

Click here to download the closing address