Elder Mediation Australasian Network - EMAN

My Mediation Options – A CALD Perspective Project

Catalyst Foundation has received funding from Multicultural SA for a project which aims to raise awareness of the types and prevalence of elder abuse and of preventative services for CALD seniors who are at risk of or who are experiencing domestic violence or elder abuse. The project also aims to increase the capacity and confidence of service providers and ‘community champions’ to prevent and respond more effectively to abuse towards CALD seniors.

Catalyst Foundation

Catalyst Foundation was formerly known as Seniors Information Service. The recent name change builds on our foundation of 21 years of service to the South Australian Community. We are the same trusted team with the same goal of connecting our community with opportunities and services and building confidence and capacity in South Australians to achieve their goals and live life to the fullest. Our new name helps us to live our value of making a difference through action, whilst reaching out to the community and our consumers, whether they are existing or new clients in the area of ageing, disability, learning, lifestyle and business and employment services.

My Mediation Options – A CALD Perspective Project Summary

The primary focus of My Mediation Options Project – A Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Perspective Project, is to raise awareness of the types and prevalence of elder abuse and of preventative services for CALD seniors who are at risk of or experiencing domestic violence or elder abuse. One goal is to increase awareness and the capacity and confidence of service providers and community groups, to help prevent and respond more effectively to domestic violence and abuse towards CALD seniors.

Our project is also seeking to improve engagement between organisations and will support communities to utilise practical solutions for dealing with issues of domestic violence against CALD seniors.  We are conducting community surveys and will train and empower identified community champions by offering ‘train the trainer’ sessions and by providing information they can impart to people seeking it.

The two focus areas are the Adelaide metropolitan region and the regional centre of Whyalla.

My Mediation Options Update

We are seeking to obtain a clear understanding of how CALD communities understand and respond to elder abuse and where older people experiencing abuse or neglect currently go for help. Cultural and language barriers play a significant challenge in accessing services. Furthermore, alienation and disengagement from social activities and service providers and reluctance to talk about or discuss elder abuse places older people in CALD communities at risk. The challenge of My Mediation Options is to talk about abuse and family violence within communities in a way that bridges cultural barriers.

My Mediation Options is looking to develop, implement and deliver a Community Champions Program which will provide champions from selected CALD communities with information and support in their language and with culturally appropriate approaches in the event elder abuse or domestic violence is experienced by an older person in their community.

As a result of the Catalyst Foundation’s demonstrated commitment to Access and Equity and our close relationship with CALD communities, participation in the project has been speedy and welcoming. To date 10 communities in the CBD and the regional centre of Whyalla have expressed interest in working with us. Over 104 workers from 80 service providers have been asked to complete a survey to gather the information that will be used to shape the program delivery and help develop the training package for the CALD Community Champions Program.

Catalyst Foundation ‘My Mediation Options’ is backed and informed by a very supportive Steering Committee chaired by Ms Jenny Hughes, Chief Executive, Catalyst Foundation and Mr Sasha Drogovelic, Team Leader, and is made up of representatives from the following organisations: the University of South Australia (Associate Professor Dale Bagshaw), Relationships Australia SA (Ms Virginia Leeuwenbuerg) , Office of the Public Advocate (Ms Elly Nitschke), Multicultural Communities Council of SA (Ms Helena Kyriazopoulos),  Multicultural Aged Care (Ms Vicki Kanakaris), South Australian Police (Dr Juma Abuyi) and Aged Rights Advocacy Service (Ms Doris Gioffre).

The My Mediation Options Project Officer – Patricia Rios is available to present to your community about our work at the Catalyst Foundation including the My Mediation Options project. For more information please contact Patricia on: Phone 8168 8708 or patricia@catalystfoundation.com.au

The objective of this program is to explore, discuss and address the multiple challenges faced in the provision of emergency care for older persons; not limited to the ED setting but across the care continuum.  More information regarding this event can be found at:
http://alfredetc-professional-development.cvent.com/events/integrated-emergency-care-for-older-persons-summit/event-summary-8200e9e7035343e995c5967905507e49.aspx

Rae Kaspiew, Rachel Carson and Helen Rhoades, Research Report No. 35 — February 2016.           https://aifs.gov.au/publications/elder-abuse                   This Report is now published on the Australian Institute of Family Studies website and provides an overview of elder abuse in Australia – including its characteristics, context, and prevention.

The new Elder Relationship Service is run by Relationships Australia and supported by federal government funding and aims to help support families deal with the complex issues of ageing. The service will run as a pilot for 12 months in Canberra ACT, Wagga Wagga NSW, Kew VIC, Adelaide SA, Launceston TAS and Moreton Bay QLD. Relationships Australia national executive officer, Alison Brook, said the service would help families have difficult conversations and resolve differences in ways that improve relationships. “It’s a common story as we age that family conflict emerges around significant health issues, where older parents will live or how estates will be divided,” Brook said: “We also want to support families to plan for future medical, health, financial or living arrangements and make decisions that protect the interests, rights and safety of all family members”. ”People can attend the new service on their own, with their partner or extended family. The Elder Relationship Service will be staffed by trained counsellors and mediators with specific skills in elder services. To find out more about the Elder Relationship Service, call 1300 364 277.

The South Australian Office for the Ageing (OFTA) has developed a public awareness campaign on safeguarding the rights of older South Australians and elder abuse. The campaign aims to safeguard older people against elder abuse and to help the South Australian community to recognise the signs and to take action if they suspect abuse is occurring.

Website address: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/stopelderabuse

Family Mediation and Counselling Victoria and Benetas have launched a Seniors Mediation Program. Seniors Mediation is a unique type of mediation for elderly people and their families that uses a non-adversarial approach to resolving conflict or making important decisions. Contact: andrea.mcdougall@benetas.com.au

Seniors Victoria (page 3) has provided good coverage of research into elder mediation as a potential strategy to protect older people from financial abuse by their adult children – http://www.thesenior.com.au/News/Digital-Paper/Victoria

Here is a link to the Older People Clinical Network webpage where you will find the draft SA Health Services Plan for People with Dementia (and Delirium). The Older People Clinical Network welcomes any comments your may have on the plan.

http://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/health+reform/clinical+networks/older+people+clinical+network