Welcome to the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Carers page. The Northern Sydney Carer Support Service recognises that CALD Carers may not readily identify as Carers and they may comprise a significant proportion of the `Hidden Carer' population. CALD Carers face additional barriers than other Carers, such as language and communication difficulties, lack of understanding of community health care and disability support systems, and the cultural competence of those systems in responding to Carers from CALD backgrounds, and a high level of stigma around disability and mental illness, and fears around lack of confidentiality - particularly in smaller communities. CALD Carers often experience difficulty accessing information on services that will assist them in their caring role. This page contains some important information and contacts about services available in the Northern Sydney region for Carers, both ethno-specific and generic. It also explains what these services provide for Carers and the person they care for, and information on support groups. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact the Northern Sydney Carer Support Service on 8877 5349. Interpreting Services If you or a family member cannot speak English well, or at all, Interpreters are available to assist you. Interpreters are available by telephone, or an Interpreter can attend an appointment with you. The service is free of charge. You must advise a Health staff member that you will require the services of an Interpreter. In the Northern Sydney region both face-to-face and telephone Interpreters are provided by the Sydney West Area Health Service's (SWAHS) Health Care Interpreter Service (HCIS). The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) is provided by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for any person or organisation who requires translation/interpreting services. TIS National is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Telephone 131 450 or visit the TIS website CALD-Specific Services and Programs Refers to organisations that are funded to provide services that are ethno-specific to a particular culture/language group for those people who are in need of assistance from an agency that understands their language, culture and customs. The following services offer community care and disability services and provide ethno-specific services to CALD Carers and the person they care for. Some of these services may require for the person to have an assessment by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) at your local hospital, while others are Home and Community Care (HACC) funded and anyone can make a referral to them. For more information on ACAT visit the Caring for an Older Person section of this website. Community Care Northern Beaches (CCNB) CCNB's Community Options Project for CALD Communities (COP CALD) covers the Northern Sydney LGAs of Lower North Shore, Hornsby & Ku-ring-gai, Ryde & Hunters Hill, and the Northern Beaches. The project provides comprehensive assessment and case management service to assist CALD clients with complex care needs and their Carers to remain living independently in their homes. A case manager assists with linkages into the broader service system and is also the contact for the client and Carer who will liaise with other service providers. Phone 9979 7677 for more information about this project. Northside Community Forum A comprehensive list of Northern Sydney Community Care Services can be found on the Northside Community Forum website as well as translated resources for CALD communities Follow the links for CALD Specific Services for Ryde Hunters Hill, Lower North Shore, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai, and Manly Warringah Pittwater areas. Follow the links to download resources in community languages on topics such as Ageing Carers, Employed Carers, Mental Health, Young Carers, Respite and HACC services: Dari Indonesian Japanese Korean Persian Serbian Simplified Chinese Traditional Chinese Home & Community Care (HACC) Program The HACC program provides community care services to the frail aged and people with a disability, and their Carers, to support them to live independently in their own homes and communities. Provision of the services does not require an assessment by the ACAT.

Home Care - Domestic Assistance The NSW Government's Human Services, Ageing, Disability & Home Care provides Domestic Assistance, a service aimed at helping the family member you care for remain independent in their own home by helping with essential light housework tasks that they are unable to manage. The information is available in 19 community languages.

Alzheimers Australia The Alzheimers Australia website has Dementia information available in a number of community languages It is the peak body providing support and advocacy for Australians living with dementia. A number of initiatives have been established to meet the needs of Cultural Diversity. As older people from CALD backgrounds constitute a significant proportion of the older Australian population there will be a rapid increase in the proportion of people with dementia from non English-speaking backgrounds. People from CALD backgrounds face numerous barriers when it comes to accessing services and further more, there seems to be a lack of understanding of dementia by many people in some CALD communities. It has developed a resource kit outlining dementia perceptions in Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese communities. This resource aims to assist organizations working with CALD clients to better understand the background of consumers they are supporting and develop appropriate services to assist these clients.

Armenian Community Welfare Centre The Armenian Community Welfare Centre has an Aged Day Care Program specifically targeting the frail aged providing an opportunity to socialize with other individuals who share their own language, culture and interests. It also offers Carer Respite and Dementia Day Care Service as well as Social Support. Click the link above for theCentre's contact details.

Australian Chinese Community Association (ACCA) The ACCA's Aged Day Care Centre's objective is to assist frail aged Chinese in expanding their social circle and maintaining physical and emotional wellbeing, and to provide respite and support to Carers who provide long-term care for the frail aged. Visit the Community Services section of the ACCA website where you can view the information in Chinese.

CanRevive Inc CanRevive Inc is a non-profit organisation that supports Chinese speaking people through their cancer journey. Their aim is to reduce the impact of cancer on patients and Carers by providing information and support services that are responsive to their cultural and linguistic needs. Visit their website for more information. Telephone 9212 7789 or email info@canrevive.com

Chinese Australian Services Society (CASS) CASS provides Community Aged Care Packages (CACP), Chinese Group Home (CGH) and Aged Day Care. Visit the CASS website

Christian Community Aid Christian Community Aid's Aged and Disabled Care aims to provide a service for people who live alone, are elderly or suffering from illness. They provide social outings for those who are socially isolated and volunteer visiting. For information on their Chinese Bus Outings call the Program Coordinator at CCA on 9858 3222. You can download their Chinese Aged Care Brochure here.

Greek Welfare Centre of NSW The Greek Welfare Centre offers the Greek elderly the opportunity for social interaction and support. The Seniors Groups/Day Care Centres days and times are available from the Services for the Aged section of the Greek Welfare Centre's website

Jewish Care Jewish Care has many services available for the Aged, Disabled, Children & Family, and Community Services.

LIFE The National Suicide Prevention Strategy is guided by the Living is For Everyone (LIFE) Framework which sets out the national priorities for suicide and self harm prevention. LIFE resources are designed for people across the community who are involved in suicide and self-harm prevention activities, including community organisations, health and mental health professionals, service providers, and the government. CALD Suicide Prevention Fact Sheet

Northside Community Connect Multicultural Carers Program provides social support to people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds living in the Manly Warringah and Pittwater local council areas. An interpreter can be arranged if the Carer cannot speak English. For further information and bookings please contact the Carers Program Coordinator on 9931 7750 or visit the Carers section of the Northside Community Connect website

Northern Sydney Multicultural Health Service For information on services and publications available in several community languages, contact the Multicultural HACC worker on 8877 5316.

Support Groups Transcultural Mental Health Centre's TMHC Carers Project and Carers Groups Carers NSW Support Groups For more information visit the Support Groups section of this website

Respite Contact the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre on 1800 052 222 24hours a day 7days a week for Respite help. Information brochures on Respite Services for families and friends affected by mental illness are available in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Serbian, Thai and Vietnamese. Click here to visit the Respite section of our website to download these brochures.

Resources available from Northern Sydney Carer Support Service Please contact our service on 8877 5349 for any of the following resources. These resources are all available in the public hospitals in Northern Sydney. Advance Care Planning Advance Care Planning (ACP) Brochure is available in Chinese, Greek, Spanish and Vietnamese. ACP is thinking ahead about your preferences for your health care treatment should you be seriously ill or injured. Delirium Brochure This brochure is available in Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Italian, Japanese and Korean and provides information for people who have experienced delirium and for their family/Carers. Patient Rights and Responsibilities Brochure The Patient Rights and Responsibilities brochure is available in Chinese, Italian, Japanese and Korean. Who's Who of Hospital Staff Brochure This brochure explains the roles of the different hospital staff that Carers and the person they care for may come across during a visit to hospital or outpatients' clinic. The brochure is available in Armenian, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Korean and English. Other Resources ADHC Disability Terms - Fact Sheets The NSW Government's Human Services Ageing, Disability & Home Care has Disability Terms - Fact Sheets available in 14 community languages. Carer Support Kits Carer Support Kits contain practical information for caring at home. The kits are available free-of-charge and come in English and 13 community languages - click on this link to order a kit in your language Request a Carer Support Kit (click on the "information and resources" section). Fall Prevention Make a Move is a falls prevention resource relating to the environment and lists several risk scenarios and what to do about them. It is also available in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Spanish and Vietnamese. Raising Kids Together DVD and Information Kit A free DVD and information kit, for families from Afghanistan, Iraq or Sudan who have a child or a young person with a disability is available from the NSW Multicultural disability Advocacy (MDAA) by phoning 9891 6400. This resource is available in Arabic, Assyrian, Dari, Dinka and Juba Arabic and will help families find out: What to look for if you think your child may have a disability More about disability Available services and how to get them Your rights and responsibilities in accessing disability services Some important phone numbers; and How to use interpreters Download the booklet in your language. Planning Ahead Kit The Planning Ahead Kit is a resource developed by the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) for managing financial, health and lifestyle decisions into the future. The kit provides information about: An enduring power of attorney Enduring guardianship and An advance health care directive. Planning Ahead Fact Sheets are available from DADHC's website covering; Enduring Guardianship, Enduring Power of Attorney, Making a Will, Planning Ahead and Where to Get Further Information. These Fact Sheets are also available to download in Arabic, Croatian and Italian Support for People with Special Needs Multilingual publications relating to ageing and aged care are available from the Australian Government's Department of Health and Ageing website Support for People with Special Needs.

Useful Links Multicultural Health Communication Service To find publications and resources by topic and/or language Multicultural Mental Health Australia The new national program in mental health and suicide prevention for Australians from CALD backgrounds Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW (MDAA) The peak organisation for people from non-English speaking backgrounds with disability, their families and Carers. The aim of MDAA is to promote, protect and secure the rights and interests of people from CALD backgrounds with disability. MDAA Resources by Language National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) A national voice advocating for the rights and interests of people from CALD backgrounds with disability, their families and Carers. Transcultural Mental Health Centre provides a range of information for mental health consumers, their Carers and community.