About CALD and Multicultural Sector Support & Development Programs

The ECCNSW Aged Care Division, comprising of both National and State-funded programs and activities have been intricate by providing aged care expertise, direction and support in the development of the Exchange Hub website and its CHSP provider engagement strategy.

The ECCNSW State-Wide MAP is the secretariat for the National Multicultural Sector Support and Development Alliance established between ECCNSW, ECCV and ECCQ Diversicare and convenor of the NSW MAP Network.

There are twelve (12), MAP officers, across NSW;

1. NSW State Wide MAP – ECCNSW
2. Newcastle / Hunter – Northern Settlement Services Ltd
3. Central Coast – Connectability Australia Ltd
4. Nepean / Blue Mountains – LEEP
5. Cumberland Prospect – Area Health
6. Bankstown Liverpool Fairfield – The Multicultural Network
7. Illawarra, South Coast – Community Industry Group
8. Northern Sydney – Hornsby Council
9. Macarthur, Wollondilly, Wingecarribee – Focus Connect
10. Inner West – Ethnic Community Services Coop
11. St George, Sutherland – Advance Diversity Services
12. Eastern Sydney – Ethnic Community Services Coop

The NSW MAP network brings together the MAP officers bi-monthly. The officers possess a variety of expertise and specialties to the network which allows the MAP program to be flexible, responsive, versatile and multifaceted. Activities include; 

• Engage with and where appropriate develop training materials to support CALD services and small aged care service providers to meet compliance requirements while delivering services that meet minimum cultural standards.
• Develop resources such as training materials, co-design staff educational resources, and consumer appropriate targeted materials
• Support the industry in scoping content and relevant information regarding compliance and reforms to include in regional forums and training events.
• Work with CALD consumer groups and services to deliver key messages and education about the Australian aged care system, industry changes and how these affect CALD consumers and carers.
• Provide individual coaching and support which has been instrumental in developing confident and CALD responsive aged care services among the large portion of small to medium size aged care providers.

An important component which contributes to the success of the CALD SSD networks is the recruitment of skilled and talented personnel who bring a variety of skills and expertise to the networks. For example in NSW, the new MAP members have brought skills across from Health, local council, government, senior management and compliance, enhancing the capacity of the network to support the aged care service system and its various auspicing partners and bodies.

The MAS network is made up of six MAS programs which are located in various planning areas across the state.

These include;

• QLD, State Wide
• Brisbane x 2
• Gold Coast
• Sunshine Coast
• Cairns and northern peninsular
• Central Queensland

The Queensland MAS program focuses is activities on the following.

• Free cross-cultural training workshops;
  • assisting services to address cultural diversity in accordance with the National Aged Care Quality Standards.
• Support staff to effectively communicate across cultures;
• Promote services to CALD communities;
• Identify, plan and develop multicultural/lingual resources to support the provision of culturally appropriate services;
• Provide free consultation working with CALD clients and communities;
• Establish networks and links with CALD communities and services to facilitate understanding of culturally complex issues of mutual concern;
• Work with services to identify barriers and gaps in current service provision for CALD clients and their carers;
• Assist in the development of a collaborative process aimed at enhancing the continued growth of responsive services