Carer Advisory Service
For information, referral, advocacy, problem solving, developing options, counselling appointments and workshops.
1800 242 636*
Commonwealth Respite & Carelink Centre
For information on community aged care and disability services in your area and all respite enquiries.
1800 052 222*
Carers ACT Northside (Main office)
2/80 Beaurepaire Crescent
HOLT ACT 2615
Ph: (02) 6296 9900
Fax: (02) 6296 9999
The Cottage
Dementia Respite - Low Care
117 Denison Street
Deakin ACT 2600
Ph: (02) 6285 2082
Fax: (02) 6282 5784
Fraser House
Disability Respite for Mature Carers
30a Kerrigan Street
Fraser ACT 2615
Ph: (02) 6259 9555
Fax: (02) 6259 9333
If you are interested in Membership please click here
*An Australian Government Initiative. Free local call. Mobile phones charged at mobile rates.
CALD Carers Program
Carers ACT runs the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Carers Program to provide support and facilitate access to services for Carers from non English speaking backgrounds.
Who are CALD Carers?
CALD Carers are people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who look after a family member or friend who has a chronic illness, disability, mental health issue, a drug or alcohol problem or is frail aged.
CALD Carers share many of the same experience as other Carers, including stress, burnout, isolation and lack of assistance. However, cultural issues and conflicts may have an additional influence on this demanding role.
Although some CALD Carers may have very strong English language skills, they may still have very different cultural values which could make mainstream support mechanisms incompatible with their needs.
What is the CALD Carers Program?
The CALD Carers Program aims to assist CALD Carers to break down the barriers and ensure they have access to the services they are entitled to.
As part of this, the program maintains twelve cultural support groups for CALD Carers. The support groups allow CALD Carers to meet and talk to other Carers who share the same language and culture. Groups are held every month and include:
- An interpreted information session, addressing specific needs and issues expresses by the group;
- Distribution of resources for Carers in English and other community languages;
- An hour for socialising or taking part in an activity that the group has elected.
The current CALD Carer Support Groups are:
- Chinese
- Greek
- Hungarian
- Indian
- Italian
- Japanese
- Polish
- Samoan
- Spanish
- Tamil
- Tongan
- Vietnamese
These support groups are facilitated by a bilingual group facilitator, who speaks the language of the group, understands the culture and can interpret if required. Carers ACT provides training and support for the group leaders to assist them in their role.
Click here for details about the time and location of the groups.
CALD Carers also have access to the mainstream one-on-one support facilitated by Carers Act, including:
- Counselling services
- Referral to respite services
- Information and resources
- Special, individual support as required
- Access to other Carers ACT groups and events
If you would like to get in touch with a CALD support group, or link someone you know with one, please contact the CALD Program Coordinator on 02 6296 9948
