A new network has been launched to address the needs and challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse ageing communities.
Entitled the National CALD Ageing Network (NCAN), the network aims to meet regularly and create strategies on their findings to present to the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler.
Mr Butler, who was present at the launch held at the Australian Greek Welfare Society (AGWS) Hall on Thursday, said that he prompted the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) to create this network to ensure the reforms in the area of CALD ageing communities happen quickly.
The Network is a web-based communication network that has been designed for all stakeholders who are involved in the CALD Aged sector – a resource where any information on CALD aged care can be sourced, disseminated and shared. It will be a forum for any stakeholder to express any issues relating to CALD ageing.
Pino Migliorino, FECCA Chair, Voula Messimeri-Kianidis, executive director, AGWS, and Joe Caputo, chair, Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria were at the launch and have taken part in this network in a bid to ensure the needs of the ageing Greek community are met.
In his address, Mr Migliorino said that due to the ageing population of Australia, the needs of the CALD communities are great.