Minister for Health and Ageing David Davis last week announced that 43 organisations across Victoria will receive grants from the first round of new Participation for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Seniors Grants Program.

The grants saw $250,000 delivered to community organisations for a wide range of projects to help older people from migrant backgrounds join in social activities. Speaking at a special event hosted last weekend by media celebrity George Donikian, Mr Davis said applications for the second round of the CALD Seniors Grants Program were now open.

“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to supporting senior Victorians from all cultural backgrounds to live independent, active and healthy lives,” Mr Davis said.

“This grants program delivers on our election commitment to support isolated seniors from diverse cultural backgrounds get involved in their local communities.”

Successful recipients from the first round include the Victorian Arabic Social Services, who will start a support group for isolated elderly women, the Australian Turkish Association, who will help their seniors with gardening and healthy cooking, and the Macedonian Men’s Senior Group of Whittlesea.

Mr Davis said older people from migrant backgrounds may be at higher risk of isolation due to lack of English and difficulty getting information and using community facilities. “It is important to make sure older people who have come from other countries, especially those who don’t speak English well, are supported to live fulfilling lives in a way that accommodates their culture and maintains social ties,” Mr Davis said.

“This is why we have created the CALD Seniors Grants Program which awards grants tocommunity organisations who are supporting older people from migrant backgrounds.”

The Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV) is working with the Government to implement the grants program and will provide assistance to grant applicants and recipients. Eligible organisations such as ethnic and multicultural community groups, seniors clubs, migrant resource centres and neighbourhood houses are invited to apply for grants of up to $10,000 from the second round of the grants program.

The second round of grants is open for applications and closes on 8 March 2013.