One size does not fit all

Our guest in this episode is Bevan Toerien, Executive General Manager at Spectrum Aged Care and Disability Services. Bevan is a vital member of Spectrum Executive Leadership Team and brings a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to improving aged and disability services. Bevan described the challenges and opportunities when on-boarding aged care workers and how Spectrum’s recruitment practices are a vital piece when it comes to attracting culturally diverse care workers. He proudly shared that Spectrum’s workforce speaks over 30 different languages and are committed to serving the diverse seniors’ community in a meaningful way. Bevan is dedicated to organisational processes and systems which makes hiring and retaining staff easier as he understands the complexity and sensitivity when it comes to navigating and supporting culturally diverse care teams. When discussing Spectrum’s approach in creating cohesion in the workplace, he adds, ‘Being culturally inclusive is in our DNA, it’s who we are. ’ Tune in to listen to the full episode.

Season 3 of our Podcast is focusing on supporting a culturally and linguistically diverse aged care workforce. In episode 2 we tackle the topic of racism experienced by aged care staff.In this episode our guest is our friend and long term supporter of The Centre, Professor Bianca Brijnath, Director of Social Gerontology at the National Aging Research Institute (NARI). Bianca has an in-depth understanding of issues related to racism experienced by aged care workers. She carried out related research, seminars, and various workshops and was interviewed by journalists on this topic.  She tell us that there is a lot of reticence by staff to raise the issue of racism publicly and speak up in their respective organization. Bianca underlines that staff must be safe at work, psychologically and physically.’ NARI’s findings also show that racism experienced by aged care staff impacts adversely on the delivery of quality care to older people. She says, ‘You can’t deliver high-quality care if you don’t have some sort of a relationship between the staff and the older person.’ She also adds that some of the challenges that management faces are linked to  the slow pace of the rollout of the aged care reforms  as well as the need to have a stronger focus on consumer directed care. Tune in for more.

Season 3 is focusing on supporting a culturally diverse aged care workforce. Episode 1 guest is Irene Blackberry, the John Richards Chair and the Director of the Care Economy Research Institute at La Trobe University. We asked Irene if there are best practice projects or innovative models to help people from new and emerging communities pursue a career in aged care. Irene told us that there are many courses of interest to migrants, such as courses offered by the Migrant Resource Centres that are related to Ageing and Disability Support.  There are also programs offered by the NSW Government, such as ‘Skills that Work.' Irene tells us that these types of programs not only assist migrants with their English skills but also assist them in better understanding the Australian aged care system. Tune in to listen to the full episode.

In this episode we speak with 2 amazing guests who are passionate about speaking up to protect the rights of seniors from culturally & linguistically diverse backgrounds.  Joe and Ananda talk about effective ways to engage with seniors from culturally & linguistically diverse backgrounds. They also share inspiring insights about what we can all do to influence change.  ABOUT OUR GUESTS Ponniah Anandajayasekeram (Ananda) is involved with a number of community organisations working for the rights of seniors from culturally & linguistically diverse communities. He’s the Board Chair of the Southern Migrant & Refugee Centre, Victoria & a member of the Policy Development Committee – COTA, Victoria.  Joe Perri uses his background in marketing & PR to campaign for housing accessibility for seniors in Victoria. He was also the representative for seniors in the Italian community in a report on post-COVID mental health distress in culturally & linguistically diverse communities.