Education reports
Information on previous Education events are as follows
TARS education trip to regional Taree/Forster/Old Bar/Wingham 9 - 13 August 2010
The recent trip was in response to a request for TARS information sessions on Advocacy and residents rights by two aged care homes and a seniors community group. Over the preceding weeks aged care homes and services were contacted and a program entered in our diary to meet the needs. The trip was undertaken by Pat Joyce and Rosalene Jones. Over 3 days 21 sessions were delivered to residents, staff and community groups, community staff and the Aged Care Assessment Team managers and ancillary staff.
At aged care homes we spoke with residents and staff on the rights of the resident referring to The Charter of Residents Rights and Responsibilities. We met with staff and members of the community at community programs, retirement villages, and libraries to inform them of our advocacy and Older Persons' Legal services and left them information and publications for their consumers.
Again all the sessions were well attended, with many questions and discussions. Being able to reach regional and rural older Australians is very rewarding for the advocates, as we are able to support these folks one to one and hear about the unique issues which affect their lives, such as transport.
13th RETIREMENT LIVING & LIFESTYLE EXPO
The 13th RETIREMENT LIVING & LIFESTYLE EXPO held recently at Rosehill Racecourse was a busy 3 days for The Aged-care Rights Service advocates and solicitors. The TARS stand was popular, and we gave away 3,000 information bags. There was a lot of interest in the Legal Aid brochures especially Power of Attorney, Changing Your Accommodation Arrangements, and aged care. Brief advice was able to be given by staff , or callers to the stand were given the opportunity of calling the office for a longer, confidential discussion of any issues.
TARS educator, Jill, at Braidwood Expo
Copy of the news item from the "Braidwood Times"
Seniors Expo success
The first Braidwood Seniors Expo was held last Friday at the National Theatre, held in NSW Seniors Week, the Expo was organised by the Braidwood Seniors Association and jointly funded by the NSW Government and Palerang Council.
The Expo hosted a wide range of services and activities for seniors, and was a good place to get out a meet a few new friends and reconnect with old ones.
Mayor Walter Raynolds officially opened the expo and admitted to a little nervousness in addressing the community_fs seniors, and acknowledged their great and continued contribution to the community.
Organisers David Jones, Elish Kidd and Judy Marston with Mayor Walter Raynolds at the Expo.
SENIORS WEEK 2010 - THE TARS ROADSHOW
The Aged-care Rights Service are pleased to announce:
As a result of the funding grant from The NSW State Government, NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care, TARS was able to conduct a number of promotional activities during Seniors Week 2010. This was in the form of a Road Show. The aim of the Roadshow was to provide information and promotional activities for some ATSI and CALD communities in the metropolitan area of Sydney. During this time we also visited Bathurst and Braidwood.
Following are photos from the event held by the United Indian Association, at Parravilla Function Centre, Campbell St, Parramatta. TARS solicitor Nalika Padmasena gave a presentation at the event.
Aruna Chandrala (president)
Minister Paul Lynch and Mr Natarajah (past president)
Sue Advani (secretary/organiser) and Nalika Padmasena (TARS)
Pat at Gnarra HACC meeting place at Jannali
During Seniors Week I had the opportunity to join the Aboriginal Elders at the Gnarra HACC meeting place at Jannali for a barbeque lunch. I had the privledge to see some wonderful paintings in progress, some traditional Aboriginal artwork, and others depicting the old days growing up in the country. There are also many paintings exhibited at the centre which are for sale.
Many of the Elders and staff were pleased to hear about the Older Persons Legal Service and the aged care advocacy which travel to all areas of the state as well as the metropolitan area to provide information and advice to older people about care, services and rights.
Australian Chinese Community Assoc Expo
Pat and Stella attended the Expo held by the Australian Chinese Community Association in Chatswood on Wednesday 7th April. Following photos show Pat and Stella at work at the TARS stand.
TARS Educator in Yass, Crookwell & Taralga
TARS education officer/advocate Pat Joyce had a very successful visit to aged care homes in Yass, Crookwell and Taralga (January 20th - 22nd). There was still a lot of green in the paddocks and along the roadsides following the recent rains. Most information sessions, which are offered free of charge to all aged care home residents, and staff, through funding from the Commonwealth Government under the National Aged Care Advocacy Program, were well attended and the participants had some interesting questions to ask. Some issues of concern to residents and staff were transport, snakes, older person's legal issues, behaviour management, and physiotherapy and dental care.
A session for retirement village residents was informative and interactive, as the information discussed crossed a broad range of scenarios from living independently, access to community care, support groups, legal matters across two states, and access to respite and rights of aged care recipients, and the internal and external complaints processes.
TARS Update
TARS education officers were recently in the Cooma-Berridale area and offered information sessions about aged care rights to all the aged care homes, and also community groups in the area. We were also available to provide advocacy face to face to assist some residents to address their concerns.
We offer free education sessions to all the recipients of Commonwealth funded aged care services within NSW over a 5 year period. Call us to discuss education for your home, whether metropolitan, rural or remote areas of the state. For those reading this outside NSW, we can refer you to organizations under the National Aged Care Advocacy Program in your state.
TARS also attended the Australian Association of Gerontology Conference in Canberra, TRANSLATION & TRANSFORMATION. It was inspiring to hear of the research which may influence policies and clinical practice which will improve the quality of life and care for older people, promote lifestyle choices and give access for all to services, regardless of age.
Participants of the Tuesday afternoon group from the Cooma Community Contact Centre attended an education session by Pat on 24 November.
Pat and Rosalene.
INFORMATION EXPO ON DEMENTIA
TARS representatives Jill McDonnell and Stella She attended the Information Expo on Dementia held for the Chinese Community at Ashfield. The event was organized by CASS (Chinese Australia Services Society) and included information sessions on Understanding Dementia and Community Support Services as well as a performance by the CASS Day Care Centre. Approximately 150 participants and 12 service providers attended the successful day.
Stella She
Jill McDonnell
Molong, Yeoval and Young Trip
See TARS Gallery for photos from this trip.
Southern Sydney Koori Interagency EXPO
TARS was invited to attend the Southern Sydney Koori Interagency EXPO and Information Day held at the Pavilion at Gunnamatta Park. The day was gloriously sunny. Live music, barbeque lunch, a lucky door prize, all made for a great intergenerational day. Some of the children even braved the cool shallow baths. There were many interesting and informative tables of information: both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services and non-aboriginal community services about child care; aged care for aboriginal people; support for families; the Centrelink Indigenous Call Centre; aboriginal HACC services; guardianship; assistance in the legal system. We saw many engaging exchanges and valuable new information being shared. We are sure the event achieved facilitation of closer ties between Aboriginal and non-aboriginal service providers.
Coffs Harbour - Living Well Expo
The recent community event hosted in Coffs Harbour on 3rd September was a resounding success for Alzheimers Australia (NSW), Centrelink and a range of services assisting people in the area. The Living Well Information Expo brought about 80 groups to display and discuss their services, including The Aged-care Rights Service. Following the official Welcome to Country, The Hon Justine Elliot, Minister for Ageing, opened the Expo. Several interesting presentations were facilitated during the day, which addressed several diverse aspects of assessment, Alzheimer's Disease, carers, Aboriginal care services, respite, pensions, independent living, disability, Centrelink and legal information.
TARS staff were available to explain its role in offering free and confidential aged care advocacy, retirement village advocacy for residents, and the Older Persons' Legal Service. Some direct referrals were also able to be made to Legal Aid, Disability Advocacy, Commonwealth Carelink and Alzheimer's Australia as all these services were represented in the Expo Hall.
Aged Care Expo, Griffith
TARS Educator Jill McDonnell participated in the Aged Care Expo organized by the Griffith City Council and Griffith Scalabrini Village on 11th June at the Griffith Ex-Servicemen's Club. Jill also provided information sessions at local aged care homes, carers groups and community services.
