Partnerships in HACC By Kate Ling, HACC Project Officer, ECCV & Derryn Wilson, Policy Officer, MAV

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” African proverb

RESPONDING TO DIVERSITY Victoria’s over 70’s population is culturally diverse – now and in future HACC program has responded with initiatives to improve access to the core generic HACC services At the heart of these initiatives is: –partnership between DH, ECCV and MAV in providing sectorial leadership and support to service providers –service provider and ethnic organisation collaboration

Older Victorians Country of birth ABS 2006 Census of Population and Housing

Needs of ageing CALD communities Social isolation Different cultural expectations of ageing Accessing information Past experience of discrimination Past trauma- from home country & migration experience Language & literacy barriers Varying cultural preferences Fragmented family networks Culturally relevant HACC services

HACC & Cultural Diversity so far… Better cultural response in generic HACC providers Cultural planning Ethnic and multicultural HACC agencies PAGs info & education Respite Friendly Visiting

Recent HACC Program Initiatives in Victoria Equity and Access program –Cultural Planning – all HACC agencies required to prepare annual CD plans to indentify actions to improve access – training and resourcing provided CEGS –3 year partnership project between LGAs with largest CALD populations and ethnic organisations SAPP –3 year pilot with EO funded to provide access workers Diversity Framework

Use of HACC services by people from NESB HACC minimum data set 2009/10 Victorian Department of Health

Peak Body HACC Partnership

Working together… HACC Advisory Committee HACC sector development & policy roles Capacity building forums & sharing resources CEGS and Supported Access Pilot Project

Supporting Access Pilot Project Holistic support for people from non-English speaking backgrounds –Bilingual, bicultural aged care professionals –Initial contact & Initial needs identification –Referral –Assessment & care planning From within the community Working for the community

A SAPP Case Study

Practising Positive Partnerships in the ethnic aged care sector – Monash University “you can’t do it by yourself” Research findings Increased partnership work = better health & wellbeing Small orgs need increased support to partner Perceived inequalities need strategies Benefits of partnering Recognition of importance of networking Peak bodies need to support and promote partnerships Flexible funding = more successful partnerships

Think diversity Think partnerships