Ang Kalatas | Vol. 2 No. 8 | May 2012
www.kalatas.com.au
FEDERAL POLITICS
Chance meeting with Foreign Minister Carr
At a Prime Minister’s Cabinet meeting in Parramatta recently, Filipino newspaper columnist and solici- tor Lolita Farmer, took aside Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr for a brief exchange.
Ms Farmer had known Mr Carr as the NSW Opposition Leader and then as Premier, and she observed that the new Foreign Minister continued to hold dear the idea of multiculturalism.
Ms farmer also had a brief talk with the Federal Minister for Health, Tanya Pilbersek, to whom she raised some issues on Medicare. With the foreign minister, Ms Farmer raised the issue of amending RA9225 section 44(I) of the Australian Constitution which disqualified Australians with dual citizenship from being elected to Federal Parliament.
Ms Farmer said she also asked that the Australian Embassy in Manila, which has control over Australian Aid programs, focus funding on areas which needed more urgent assistance. ‘’My request was to ask for grants to the
MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
Living longer program welcome, says FECCA
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) welcomes the Federal Government’s announcements under the Living Longer. Living Better program.
The package is both broad and important and is a start to reflecting the cultural and linguistic diversity in those ageing in our society, according to FECCA.
“The announcement of $24.4 million to assist older Australians with diverse needs, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, to access information and aged care services is welcomed,’’ it said.
“However, this needs to be complemented by a significant investment in the actual services being accessed.
Australian Foreign Aff airs Minister Bob Carr, le , with newspaper columnist and solicitor Lolita Farmer at Parrama a during a Prime Minister’s Cabinet community mee ng at Parrama a.
Philippines in light of information that funding cuts may be made in the Australian Aid program,’’ she said.
‘’Mr Carr said he was in agreement with me about local
community participation at some official meetings with visiting foreign officials.
‘’These meeting would involve local community representatives with expertise in certain fields.’’
“There is a clear and outstanding need for more CALD community specific home based packages, residential places and dementia services, and these need to be a priority in the rollout of new packages, places and dollars.’’ FECCA particularly commended the introduction of Consumer Director Care in the future provision of home based care packages and its future introduction into residential care.
“Not only will this measure give greater capacity for CALD older people to insist that care is culturally relevant, it will also act as a strong motivator for the aged care service sector to become culturally competent,’’ FECCA said.
FECCA will be keen to ensure that the new architecture of the aged care system is designed to deal with the diversity in the community.
This has particular application to the development of the “Gateway”, the new Australian Aged Care Quality Agency, and in the detail of the Workforce Compact. Ensuring that these key features have the capacity to understand and respond to cultural and linguistic diversity should be a key objective in the development of the new aged care structure. The acknowledgment of advocacy as an important component of the whole aged care system is critical.
FECCA looks forward to being one of those voices ensuring that the 30% of the 65+ age cohort who are from culturally and linguistically diverse traditions can access services developed to meet their needs and that allow them to age with dignity.
News | 03
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