Cultural Connections Issue 10 - Diversicare

ISSUE
10 Cultural Connections
January
2012
this issue
PNG Cultural Briefing P.1
The PICAC Program P.2
Information Open Day P.5
Multicultural Month P.6
Meet Marilyn! P.6
Recipe of the Month P.7
Meet Mangol! P.7
Cultural Resources & Support P.8
Meet Marcela! P.8
What’s on? P.9
C
hinese New Year is considered the most
important traditional Chinese festival in
China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia,
Singapore and Taiwan. It is known as 春 節
“Spring festival”, pronounced Chun Jie in
Mandarin. As the spring season in the
Chinese calendar starts with lichun, the
first solar term in a Chinese calendar year
is often referred to as the Chinese Lunar
New Year. The festival begins on the first
day of the first month of the traditional
Chinese calendar and ends with a lantern
festival on the 15 th day.
The Chinese New Year is a time to
reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely
wish peace and happiness for everyone.
People will pour out their money to buy
presents, decorations, food and clothing.
Each family will thoroughly clean the
house to sweep away any ill-fortune in the
hope of making way for good luck.
Windows and doors will be decorated with
red coloured paper-cuts and couplets with
popular themes of 如 意 “good fortune”,
幸 福 “happiness”, 富 貴 “wealth” and
長 壽 “longevity”.
Early the next morning, the children will
greet their parents by wishing them a healthy
and happy new year. Children will
traditionally receive money in red envelopes
from their parents.
On 23th of January 2012 it is the beginning of
the Year of Dragon. In Chinese tradition, the
dragon is considered as a divine beast,
symbolising wealth, wisdom, power and
nobility. Those born under this auspicious
sign are regarded as innovative, passionate
people who are colourful, confident and
fearless. The dragon is larger than life and its
appearance means that big things are to come.
The year of the dragon is a flowing river, not
a stagnant lake. Things happen quickly
earlier in the year. The dragon marks
progression, perseverance and auspiciousness.
It may also bring about unpredictable events.
Tanya Yu Feng Shih
PICAC Network Facilitator
picacnet@diveriscare.com.au
Resources: Chinese New Year, Wikipedia, the free
encyclopaedia and Chinese New Year 2012: Meaning and
Predictions for the Year of the Dragon, International Business
Times
On the Eve of Chinese New year families
traditionally share in a feast. The feast will
include items such as pigs, chickens, ducks
and sweet delicacies. The family will end
the night with firecrackers.

PNG Cultural
Briefing
“If you talk to a man
in a language he
understands,
that goes to his
head. If you talk to
him in his language,
that goes to his
heart.”
-- Nelson Mandela
E
very now and then we get
the opportunity to travel
without actually leaving town -
our cultural briefing about
Papua New Guinea took us a
long way from home. At the
beginning of July, we had the
privilege of learning about one
of the most culturally and
linguistically heterogeneous
countries in the world from
Wallis Yakam. Cultural
briefings are all about opening
up to different cultures and
learning how people live in
their country of origin and how
they adapt their culture to life
in their chosen home,
Australia. Of course this
journey is individual and each
family, each person has their
own story.
This time Wallis and two other
community members took us to
three different places in Papua
New Guinea, giving us a sense
of just how varied life is in this
amazing country.
Guinean customs. We were
treated to a dance performance
from the Bougainville Dance
Group and a taste of a
traditional Papua New
Guinean mumu as well as a
sago dish.
Although it is difficult to
summarise here are some
points Wallis made:
Since 1910 when the first
recorded migration to
Australia from PNG happened
there are approximately
24,020 people from PNG
living here (according to the
2006 census) and more than
half of this total live in
Queensland (12, 590),
showing how important it is
for us to become more aware
of Papua New Guinean
peoples and their cultures.
Most Papua New Guinean
people would speak English as
well as Tok Pisin and there are
over 850 local languages.
The Wantok system is a
complex and sophisticated
support network based on
family and tribal connections.
Wealth is shared.
Visitors are always welcomed
and expected.
Food is always shared, even if
there is only a small amount
available.
Other issues discussed
included attitudes to HIV/
Aids, childbirth practices,
domestic violence, taboos and
food.
You just had to be there . . .
come along next time to find
out more.
Mallika Krishnamurthy
HACC Multicultural Advisor
mas.bne@diversicare.com.au
Free Interpreter Translation Services
for HACC Service Providers in Queensland
The SWITC Program will be used by Non-Government Organisation
who receive funding from Disability Services Queensland and provide:
Home and Community Care Services
Mental Health Services
Disability Services
For further information on the SWITC Program visit www.switc.org.au or call 3892 8559.
1

The PICAC
Program
Partners in Culturally
Appropriate Care
P
opulation trends in
Australia appoint to two areas
of great interest. Australians
are living longer and our
society is increasingly
characterised by a diversity of
people, languages and culture.
It is not surprising that aged
care service providers are
faced with increasing demands
for culturally appropriate care.
Partners in Culturally
Appropriate Care is a
Commonwealth Department of
Health and Ageing funded
project to equip aged care
service providers to deliver
culturally appropriate care to
older people from culturally
and linguistically diverse
(CALD) communities, and
improve cultural communities’
access to culturally appropriate
care. Currently, we are
supporting approximately 260
residential facilities across
Queensland with cultural
resources, workshops, staff
training and advice.
To achieve the goals of the
PICAC project in Queensland,
the PICAC team offers a
variety of ‘free of charge’
services to aged care service
p r o v i d e r s . T h e m a i n
components of our services
include:
O r g a n i s e i n fo r ma t i o n
sessions/forums for different
community groups advising
older people from CALD
background on culturally
appropriate care options for
them and available support
for their carers.
Link aged care providers
with relevant cultural
communities to facilitate
understanding of culturally
complex issues
Provide free cultural training
to any aged care service
funded by the Department of
Health and Ageing. Our
training sessions aim at
helping service providers to
gain better understanding of
how cultural issues may
ha ve a n i mp act o n
behaviour, communication
and lifestyle by recognising
d iversit y, identi fyi n g
possible barriers and creating
cultural awareness and
competence.
Plans to deliver workshops
focused on Dementia
Behaviour Management,
P a l l i a t i v e C a r e a n d
Continence, Torture and
Trauma from a CALD
perspective in collaboration
w i t h l o c a l s e r v i c e s
specialised in those fields.
This project is expected to
run from 2012.
Organise PICAC network
workshops and breakfast for
government and community
organisations providing aged
care related services. These
are excellent opportunities
for services to network, build
links, share information and
resources, showcase new
initiatives, facilitate a
p r o b l e m - s o l v i n g
environment and participate
in information sessions.
Provide information about
cultural resources and
websites where service
providers can find useful and
practical guidance. The
PICAC program has a
n a t i o n a l w e b s i t e
(www.culturaldiversity.com.
au) containing information
related to different cultural
needs and practices.
T h e P I C AC t e a m a t
Diversicare will be happy to
assist service providers across
Queensland. Should you like
to find out how our service can
support your needs, please
contact our staff:
Elizabeth Zajac
PICAC Project Officer
P h : 3 0 1 7 2 7 2 3
picac@diversicare.com.au
Silvia Borges
PICAC Training Officer
Ph: 3017 2721
picaced@diversicare.com.au
Marilyn Topp
PICAC Administration Officer
Ph: 3017 1726
picacadmin@diversicare.com.au
“no culture can live,
if it attempts to be
exclusive”
-- Mahatma Ghandi
2

Information
Open Day
Islamic community
of the Gold Coast
F
or the very first time on
Friday the 28th of October, an
information event had
occurred specifically for the
Islamic community of the Gold
Coast.
The information open day
came from the idea of finding
the needs of the Islamic
community. One box for men,
and one for women were
placed in the segregated
sections of the Mosque and the
Islamic community were asked
to provide Diversicare with
their current needs in relation
to community services.
The responses received
indicated that the Islamic
community were unaware of
the available services due to
lack of information and a gap
from service providers in
targeting this group.
Diversicare paired with Blue
Care and contacted local
Meet Tanya!
My name is Tanya Shih. Before I came to
Australia I worked as a Community Health
Nurse for the Health Department of Taipei City
Council for 15 years. When I was a teenager I
was inspired by Mark Twain who called
Australia the last Eden. To fulfil my teenage
dream, I decided to come to Australia soon
after meeting a professor from UQ (University
of Queensland) at an education expo in Taiwan.
I did a study on “Utilisation of and satisfaction
with health care for elderly Chinese in
Brisbane” while studying a master’s
degree in Social Work at UQ. I then
did a comparative study on “Family
support for elderly Taiwanese in
Brisbane and Taiwan” and was
granted a PhD in Sociology. I have
been very lucky to work mental
community service groups
who might be interested in
taking part in the event in
order to link their services to
this large multicultural
community group.
Diversicare (Tony Naji) and
Hajj Hussin Goss opened the
event with a few words, and
Councillor Sarroff made an
appearance and met with key
stakeholders.
The community service
groups held stalls and
provided gifts which were
handed out through lucky door
prizes included Blue Care,
Diversicare, Centrelink,
HACC, QADA, QLD Fire
and Rescue, SES, OZCARE,
MCCGC, Commonwealth
Respite, Volunteering Gold
Coast, QLD Police Service,
Care Link, The Islamic
Women’s Association of
QLD, and Carers QLD.
Some interpreters and
v o l u n t e e r c o m m u n i t y
interpreters also attended to
assist the Urdu, Arabic and
Bosnian community groups in
accessing information during
the event. Free lunch was
provided to all those who
attended.
Feedback by the Islamic
community was promising,
and although it was a rocky
start with many fearful of the
event, many broke the barrier
a n d g a i n e d v a l u a b l e
information by seeking out the
service providers who held
stalls.
Feedback from the service
providers was also positive
with many requesting the
event be held every six
months.
Tony Naji
HACC Multicultural Advisor
mas.goldcoast@diversicare.com.au
Health and aged care which I am passionate about
for multicultural communities. I worked as a
Community Education Coordinator with the
Multicultural Centre for Mental Health and Well
Being Inc known as Harmony Place before
joining Diversicare.
I feel strongly about promoting fairness, equity
and dignity in our society. It is paramount to
disseminate information, resources and services to
people from CALD backgrounds in their own
language, to inform them of their rights,
encourage them to speak up and also
raise awareness about providing
cultural appropriate services to service
providers.
Tanya Yu-Feng Shih
PICAC Network Facilitator
picacnet@diversicare.com.au
5

I
Multicultural Month
article from Ozcare
n October, the clients from
Ozcare Day Respite Centre in
Townsville participated in a
“Multicultural Month”. The aim
of this month was to expose
clients and staff to different
cultures and to increase
awareness of the unique
diversity which makes up our
Australian society.
Each day of the month had a
focus on a different country in
the world. Activities in the
program and food for client
meals were centred around the
country of the day and clients
had the opportunity to
participate in activities that
were meaningful and relevant to
the culture of that particular
country.
Planning and co-ordination of
this program was designed to
correspond with the various
cultural groups of staff and
Meet Marilyn!
Greetings all! I am the new administration
officer for Diversicare’s PICAC team.
Although I have, for the last 17 years, worked
as an Administration Officer within the
community sector, I am new to the aged care
industry. I will be in the office
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays providing the much
needed support and assistance with
networking, workshops, training,
meetings, PICAC breakfast, as well
as ensuring the availability and
6
clients who attend the Centre, as
well as enlightening clients who
were previously unfamiliar with
the featured cultures. In
a d d i t i o n , c l i e n t s we r e
empowered by the opportunities
to demonstrate skills, share
knowledge of their cultural
heritage and to reminisce about
their past experiences.
Inspiration for this month’s
multicultural focus came
following Julie Fraser’s
attendance at staff in-servicing
on cross-cultural training with
food and cultural influences.
Since this time, Julie has
assisted our staff with activity
ideas, resources and recipes for
use at the Centre.
As a result, positive client
response in our client meeting
and during each day’s
proceedings, was overwhelming
during this month.
Many clients have already
requested to learn more about
other countries and continue the
multicultural theme in our
future programming.
Ozcare always strives to
provide client-centred care and
we envisage that the client
requests will be accommodated.
We intend to entwine a
multicultural theme into our
program, and we will continue
with a focus on cultural
representation in Australia.
We value the contribution that
Julie and Diversicare have made
to our Program, and for their
collaboration with our staff to
produce such a successful
outcome. I would like to thank
Julie for her input.
Sarah Weiss
Acting Diversional Therapist
Ozcare Day Respite Centre
currency of resources, brochures, information
pamphlets/flyers and particularly the Cultural
Information booklet. I look forward to touching
base with service providers and residential
facilities when updating contact details and
providing information relating to staff
training and available resources as well
as being the central point of contact for
all service providers with queries
relating to PICAC activities.
Marilyn Topp
PICAC Administration Officer

Recipe of the Month
Radish Cakes
Ingredients:
Method:
Cultural Briefing DVD:
Italian - In My Home
The Home and Community
Care Multicultural Advisory
Service in collaboration with
CoAsIt Community Services,
Festival of the Three Saints
Inc., and the generosity of the
Australian Italian community
members have developed a
cultural briefing DVD on the
Italian culture called "In My
Home". The DVD contains
photos, audio and video
footage about the Italian
culture, including information
about attitudes to aged care,
co mmunicatio n, values,
migration, food, leisure and
customs, attitudes to health and
illness, religion, and death,
dying and rituals.
This resource is available free
of charge to Home and
Community Care services in
Queensland only.
If you are a Home and
Community Care service and
are interested in the Italian
cultural briefing DVD In My
Home, please contact the
Special Projects
Support Officer
PO Box 246
Thuringowa Central
Qld 4817
Ph: (07) 4723 1470
Fax: (07) 4723 8492
s.teleni@diversicare.com.au
2 1/2 pounds lo bak
(Chinese white radish)
1 cup water
2 cups long-grain rice flour
5 tblspns oil
1 tblspn scallion, finely
chopped
4 dried black mushrooms
1/4 cup dried shrimp, finely
chopped & soaked in 1
tblspn sherry
4 Chinese sausages, finely
chopped
2 tspns salt
1/2 tspn sugar
1/2 tspn pepper
1 tblspn Cilantro, finely
chopped
1 tblspn sesame seeds,
toasted
Meet Mangol!
I completed a Bachelor of Science & Education
in Egypt. In 2001, I left Egypt for Queensland
Australia under a humanitarian visa. I struggled
to adjust to a new life in a developed Country. It
was a great challenge.
In 2002 I wondered if I could teach students who
were culturally different from me. I thought: I
cannot effectively teach in this community
without first knowing what it means to live here.
I needed to learn the values of this country so I
began to explore the local neighbourhood. I also
worked at Australian Country Choice as an
operator: the first job for me and my first direct
interaction with mainstream society,
Australia. In 2004 I worked as a
bilingual aide alongside the teacher in
Science, Mathematics and English as
a Second Language. I realised that
most of what I knew was mainly
applicable to overseas students. I
1. Peel and grate turnips.
Simmer in 1 cup water for
hour, or until tender.
2. Combine rice flour and
turnips in bowl until
consistency of thick
oatmeal. Add 2 tablespoons
of oil and mix well. Set
aside.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in
wok. Stir-fry scallion,
mushrooms, shrimps and
sausages and add to turnip
mixture.
4. Add salt, sugar, and pepper.
Mix thoroughly
5. Grease cake pan (6x9 inch
rectangular pan). Pour in
mixture and sprinkle with
parsley and sesame seeds.
Place on rack in steamer
and steam over briskly
boiling water 1 hour.
1. Refrigerate overnight once
cooled.
2. To serve, slice into 2 inches
wide, 3 inches long and fry
in 1 tablespoon oil until
golden brown.
3. Serve plain or with oyster
sauce, soy sauce or chilli
sauce.
Serves 4-6
Radish ( 菜 頭 , chhài-thâu)
is a homophone for
"good fortune" ( 好 彩 頭 ,
hó-chhái-thâu) in Hokkien
decided to upgrade my qualifications and now
hold both a Bachelor’s degree and a Masters in
Education.
These experiences were extremely important to
my teaching career. I gained the ability to create
supportive learning environments for my
students, honouring their differences from me and
from each other. I discovered engaging activities
and effective teaching strategies to raise students’
awareness and tolerance of diversity in the
classroom.
I speak Dinka, Sudanese Arabic, classical Arabic
and English enabling me to communicate with a
wider range of people. As these are transferable
skills, I will to the best of my ability
contribute to this lovely organisation
Diversicare.
Mangol Lok
HACC Multicultural Advisor
mas.bne@diversicare.com.au
7

Cultural Resources and Support
www.culturaldiversity.com.au
The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing has
aged care practice guides to providing culturally
appropriate aged care.
www.diversicare.com.au
Diversicare - access to resources, cultural
briefings/profiles, publications, cultural diversity
training, education sessions.
www.communities.qld.gov.au/multicultural
The Qld Department of Communities
Multicultural Resources Directory (updated
annually) is a list of 1500+ organisations with an
ethnic community focus in Qld. Site also has
information on telephone/Auslan interpreting and
translation services.
www.naati.com.au
NAATI - information on accessing nationally
accredited translator or interpreter.
www.easternhealth.org.au
Eastern Health language cue cards (over 60
languages) can be downloaded for free.
www.oyo.net.au
OYO comprehensive language cue cards can be
ordered for a fee via this website.
www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural
Qld Health - access to information on translation/
interpretation; multicultural links for government
sites, Qld Health funded NGOs, multicultural
library links; multilingual information, training
and education.
www.goldencarers.com
Golden Carers - access to information on support
for leisure & lifestyle coordinators/occupational
therapists/caregivers working in elder care. An
annual membership fee applies.
Meet Marcela!
Hi everyone! I am Marcela Fischer the new
HACC Multicultural Advisor in Cairns. I was
born and raised in Santiago-Chile. I have been in
Australia (Cairns) for 5 years. I am really happy
to be able to live here as I love the weather, yeah!
Sticky and hot and close to nature. I also enjoy
raising a “free-range child” in a fantastic place
like Cairns. I grew up in the southern suburb of
La Florida. It was not urbanized and green! I
spent summer evenings in the street playing with
my neighbours and I aim to provide a taste of that
wonderful freedom to my
daughter Raffaela (4Y/O), away
from the demands of big cities.
I came to Australia to complete
my studies after spending 4
years freezing in Sweden. I
have a bachelor degree in
Social Science majoring in
8
www.health.gov.au
The Australian Government Department of Health
and Ageing - access to information and resources
on support for people with special needs
(multicultural).
www.ceh.org.au/resources/ceh_library.asp
Centre for Culture Ethnicity & Health cultural
competence in health online information.
www.fightdementia.org.au
Alzheimer’s Australia (national site) - access to
information on dementia, services & support,
research/publications including cultural diversity.
Community Volunteers Scheme
For multicultural volunteers to visit and help
stimulate residents from similar cultural
backgrounds and share language, stories, games
etc. see:
www.qccn.org.au
Qld Community Care Network Inc.
Culturally and linguistically diverse specific
CVS contact:
Diversicare (all CALD) 07 3846 1099
Co.As.It (Italian) 07 3352 5755
OzPol (Croatian, Czechoslovakian, Polish,
Russian, Slovak, Ukrainian) 07 3211 3833
www.health.gov.au/internet/main/
publishing.nsf/content/ageing-rescare-cvscvs.htm
Australian Government Department of Health and
Ageing (brochures published in both English and
other languages)
Sociology and Anthropology and I am studying a
Masters in Local and Regional Community
Development with Monash University.
What do I aim in my role? I aim to reach people
living in isolation, not necessarily geographic
isolation, but exclusion from the rest of the
community, and inform them about their rights
and responsibilities regarding care. I want them to
receive culturally appropriate care and be able to
make informed choices. I aim to support their
families and friends to build good relationships
with services providers and
support workers. I aim to educate
t he co m mu n i t y o n t he
importance of being culturally
aware and live/work in harmony.
Marcela Fischer
HACC Multicultural Advisor
mas.peninsula@diversicare.com.au
“Preservation of
one’s own culture
does not require
contempt or
disrespect for
other cultures.”
-- Cesar Chavez

What’s on?
20-21 January Tet - Vietnamese New Year (Richlands)
23 January Chinese New Year
Year of the Dragon
16 February PICAC Network Breakfast (Nathan)
21 February Shrove Tuesday
22 February Papua New Guinea Information Session (Brisbane)
Professional
Development
Check out our
website
calendar for
our upcoming
training sessions
or call us on
3846 1099 to
find out more,
and book some
training with us!
27 February Baha'i Information Session (Brisbane)
27 February Clean Monday - Greek Lent begins
18 March Japan & Friends Day
annual cultural event - Japanese Society of the Gold Coast
22 March Seniors Harmony Day Expo (Townsville)
6 May Feast of the Three Saints (Silkwood)
The History of the Three Saints, St Alfio, St Filadelfo and St
Cerino, in Silkwood began in 1950, when they were brought
from Italy to Silkwood by Rosario Tornabene.
Cultural Connections Issue 09 July
Brisbane
49-51 Thomas Street
WEST END Q 4101
07 3846 1099
info@diversicare.com.au
Logan/West Moreton
59 Wembley Road
LOGAN CENTRAL Q 4114
07 3208 6401
westmore@diversicare.com.au
Mt Gravatt
1852 Logan Road
MT GRAVATT Q 4122
07 3343 7499
mtgravatt@diversicare.com.au
Redcliffe
2/106 Sutton Street
REDCLIFFE Q 4020
07 3883 1550
cabool@diversicare.com.au
Sunshine Coast
6/43 Minchinton Street
CALOUNDRA Q 4551
07 5493 9455
birtinya@diversicare.com.au
Gold Coast
44 Davenport Street
SOUTHPORT Q 4215
07 5528 0614
mas.goldcoast@diversicare.com.au
Cairns
12/22 Toogood Road
CAIRNS Q 4870
07 4054 5653
cairns@diversicare.com.au
Townsville
34/184-188 Vickers Road
CONDON Q 4815
07 4723 1470
townsville@diversicare.com.au