Filipino Community Council of Victoria, Inc Hosts Aged Care Mentoring Program for FILCCA

FCCVI hosted the first Aged Care Mentoring Program on 8 May 2009. It was held at the Philippine-Australian Multipurpose Centre in Footscray, Victoria. The one-day workshop was well organized and attended by Filcca delegates from ACT, New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia. There were over 30 participants who were all eager to learn from the successful and professional project administrators and volunteers from FCCVI.

The Victorian Aged Care Program is an inspirational model for all other FILCCA members states to replicate. Their age care services started in 1996 with Ms Connie San Jose and a couple of volunteers. To date, FCCVI is now in partnership with Local and State Goverments, with a recurrent funding of over $300,000 p.a., and employs 10 part-time qualified staff and dedicated volunteers, and helping many more Filipino seniors and their families.

The services they offer are varied and their approach is holistic. They have a State administered assessment and screening process and their services cater to low and high care clients, in their own homes and in the community houses. FCCVI’s aged care program include: Day Care Centre activities, including transportation; information referral and advocacy; respite care; palliative care; and they also run a successful Brokerage Program. Through Ms Ruby Sestoso, Nursing Homes and mainstream agencies are given cultural briefings regarding their Filipino residents’/clients’ values, traditions and sentiments. These results to a more comfortable experience for the elderly and peace of mind for their families.

The workshop was well structured and the subjects were presented clearly. Mr Manny Asuncion kept us on time, for there was a lot to cover in very little time. Mr Jing Sosa and Mrs Marisa Vedar were effective Facilitators. The main speaker, Ms Connie San Jose’s wealth of information and business acumen is highly commendable. Ms Florence Parker, FILCCA Chairperson introduced and praised FCCVI for their hard work in putting together this workshop. Ms Norma Serrano, FCCVI Chairperson, gave the participants a very warm welcome. She also recognized and thanked every single person in FCCVI who worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the workshop. Her sound leadership and foresight resulted in a solid team effort.

As a participant, I found the continuous flow of information stimulating and challenging. It demonstrated the importance of a responsive and relevant age care program. All the other participating states are hoping to use the knowledge they acquired to tap the various available resources to help our aging Filipinos. Ms Connie San Jose and the other speakers presented us with concrete guidelines and helpful suggestions throughout the workshop.

All in all it was a pleasurable learning experience. Congratulations FCCVI. It’s also a big effort for all the participants who made a huge sacrifice to attend the workshop. With FILCCA’s support, we hope to continue our contribution to the Filipino-Australian community. (Jean Berces, ACT)