Aged Care Services Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grant (ACSIHAG)
Funded by the federal Department of Social Services, the Aged Care Services Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grant (ACSIHAG) consolidates the activities of a range of initiatives and grant programs. It also provides a large, flexible funding pool for initiatives aimed at aged care service improvement and promoting healthy and active ageing.
The ACSIHAG program run by the Maltese Community Council of Victoria (MCCV) enables the building of a bridge between the Maltese community and residential facilities and mainstream services. Moreover, it provides information and educational sessions and other initiatives for the benefit of the Maltese community.
MCCV ACSIHAG Program Objectives
The objectives of the MCCV ACSIHAG Program are:
- To provide the ageing Maltese community with sustainable services in conjunction with mainstream organisations;
- To organise and provide information and educational sessions in partnership with mainstream organisations; and
- To provide Maltese carers with support & information in conjunction with Carers Victoria.
Initiatives for 2014
The initiatives planned for 2014 are:
Maltese Elderly Cluster Program
The Cluster Program was created by the MCCV and is currently being offered to any residential facility that is willing to commit to the program. This program aims to benefit elderly Maltese who want to enter a residential facility that caters for their cultural, linguistic, spiritual and culinary needs.
Through this Cluster Program, staff members from residential facilities will be provided with information session on Maltese culture and history, language classes and how to provide cultural activities.
Through this Cluster Program the MCCV aims to address the issues faced by the ageing Maltese community by providing a service through a mainstream organisation that aims to provide them with the best culturally appropriate care.
Family members interested in the benefits offered to elderly Maltese through this Cluster Program as well as aged care facilities interested in working with us are encouraged to contact the Maltese Community Centre.
NOTE: While the MCCV provides cultural training to staff at residential facilities, the MCCV does not vouch for or have anything to do with the quality of the personal care provided at any of the facilities.
Maltese Carers Support Group
The Maltese Carers Support Group is for those Maltese who care for loved ones who are elderly, ill or have a disability. The group has bi-monthly meetings at the MCCV regional office in Sunshine. At these meetings carers are given information and support in their roles as carers.
Collaboration with ‘Community Chef’ to provide Maltese meals
We are currently working with Community Chef, an organisation that provides meals to elderly in their homes. The purpose of our collaboration with Community Chefs, we desire that Maltese elderly who take part in this service will have the choice of a traditional Maltese meal. This project is currently in progress.
Information sessions for members of the Maltese Community
A number of information session are held during the year on various subjects and issues that are of interest to the Maltese Community.
Diversity training for mainstream service providers and aged care providers
Information sessions on Maltese culture, history and traditions are provided to residential care facilities for staff members. These sessions can be booked by calling the Maltese Community Centre during business hours.
Diversity presentations for community groups
With the aim of promoting Malta’s rich history & culture, the MCCV offers to community groups, libraries and schools a presentation on Maltese culture, history and traditions. To book these sessions you can contact the Maltese Community Centre. These sessions can be held at the Maltese Community Centre or at your centre, library or school.
Community Services Newsletter
A bi-monthly newsletter is published by the MCCV Community Services to raise awareness on ageing issues, promote activities that benefit the Maltese community as well as articles of interest.
MCCV Partnerships
Currently the Maltese Community Council of Victoria is working in partnership with Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC), Carers Victoria, Cumberland Manor Aged Care Facility, Alzheimer’s Australia, and the Ethnic Community Council of Victoria (ECCV)
The MCCV organises a number of activities to educate the Maltese community on health issues as an integral part of the Community Partners Program, which is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.
The need to educate the community on health and other issues is something that we aim to keep our focus on. It is important that affiliated associations and others as well take advantage of these educational activities that we provide.
Healthy Eating
Fit & Fed from the Centre of the Med are seminars on the Mediterranean Diet and healthy eating, with a special focus on Maltese cuisine. The purpose of these seminars is twofold:
- To encourage members of the Maltese Community to revert back to traditional Maltese cooking that they were brought up with.
- To raise awareness to staff of residential facilities of the importance that culturally appropriate foods have on the well-being of their residents
Information sessions for members of the Maltese Community
A number of information session are held during the year on various subjects and issues that are of interest to the Maltese Community.
Diversity training for mainstream service providers and aged care providers
Information sessions on Maltese culture, history and traditions are provided to residential care facilities for staff members. These sessions can be booked by calling the Maltese Community Centre during business hours.
Diversity presentations for community groups
With the aim of promoting Malta’s rich history & culture, the MCCV offers to community groups, libraries and schools a presentation on Maltese culture, history and traditions. To book these sessions you can contact the Maltese Community Centre. These sessions can be held at the Maltese Community Centre or at your centre, library or school.
Maltese Cultural Resources
Maltese Resource Directory – This resource is available to residential facilities working with the Maltese Community Council of Victoria. This resource has brief information on Malta, cultural calendar, cultural activities, Maltese recipes & useful Maltese community contacts.
Maltese/English Flashcards – These flashcards are available to residential facilities and other community services organisations that work with Maltese elderly.
MCCV Contact
For further information contact the Community Development Officer on Tel: (03) 9387 8922 or Fax (03) 9387 8309 or email: [email protected]
This Project ‘Building a Permanent Bridge’ is supported by the Australian Government.
