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Addressing cultural diversity within a philosophy of care

on Friday, September 19, 2014

People working for an approved aged care provider in Victoria have the opportunity to attend a series of free workshops and seminars addressing cultural diversity in aged care.

The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing has just launched its training calendar for the new financial year, which includes activities on nutrition, dementia, policy development and communication in the context of cultural diversity.

The professional development series is designed to give providers an organisational approach to taking on cultural diversity.

The Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing senior project officer Tonina Gucciardo-Masci said a culturally inclusive organisation is one that brings the issue of diversity to the forefront.

“Cultural diversity should never be an afterthought,” Ms Gucciardo-Masci said.

The first workshop runs on October 10, addressing diversity across the quality standards in residential and home care.

The Centre has developed an evaluation and planning tool, covered in the workshop, to ensure each standard of care is addressed from a culturally inclusive perspective.

“We need to make sure we address cultural diversity within the entire philosophy of care,” Ms Gucciardo-Masci said.

“For example, clinical care plans need to be developed and reviewed in the resident’s preferred language.

“Everything we do must be inclusive and integrated.”

On November 21, a seminar on culturally inclusive meals and nutrition in aged care wraps up the schedule for 2014.

Ms Gucciardo-Masci said food is not only about cultural determination but physiological tolerances.

“If I’m a person who has always had rice as the main carbohydrate and suddenly I’m expected to eat pasta and bread, that might not only not appeal to my tastes, but effect my physiology,” she said.

“Having to make changes in our diet can be quite challenging and that grows more pronounced the older we get.”

The Centre draws on positive exemplars, both in aged care and other industries, with aspirational policies around cultural diversity.

Ms Gucciardo-Masci said like all high quality service delivery in aged care, addressing cultural diversity requires strong leadership, strategic visioning, effective planning and policies and resource allocation. 

See here for a full copy of the calendar.

Image: Tonina Gucciardo-Masci, pictured left, at a previous workshop in Shepparton. CONTRIBUTED.

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