Aged Care Cultural and Linguistic - Diversity Mentoring Program

The Centre’s Aged Care Cultural and Linguistic - Diversity Mentoring Program DMP is funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and is a structured mentorship program working with funded Aged Care Providers to develop and implement a Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Action Plan observing the Aged Care Act 2024, Statement of Rights and the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. It provides support for managers, leaders & boards to strengthen organisational systems, policies and practices to better respond to cultural diversity and promote cultural safety. 

The Mentoring Program is a free service under the auspices of the Centre for Cultural Diversity in Ageing (VIC) and delivered by members of the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) Alliance in Victoria, NSW/ACT and WA. It provides a mentor (senior advisor/consultant) to work with leaders from aged care services in a structured four to six-month relationship. The Mentoring Program aims for providers to develop their capacity, capability, and systems to support the needs of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) older people in a rights-based aged care system. There are currently two intakes per year - with invitations now opening for the next cohort of providers to commence in September/October 2025.

Participation in the Mentoring Program is a relationship over four to six months, where a commitment is made by the organisations’ representative as a mentee to work with the program mentor/advisor to help them identify their needs and create a plan to be culturally inclusive. This program involves structured modules which are geared towards strengthening policies, procedures and overall systems for the organisation to enhance responsiveness to cultural diversity and inclusion and contribute to the organisation’s Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Action Plan mapped towards the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.

Objectives of the Mentoring Program include -

• Participants will reflect and evaluate their current cultural and inclusive practices and set goals to better respond to cultural diversity and promote cultural safety

• Participants will become aware of resources and tools to utilise in the organisation to facilitate enhanced culturally responsive practice 

• Organisations will be supported to develop a Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Action Plan to support their continuous improvement of care for individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds aligned to the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.

Feedback from participants:

“[The Mentoring Program] offered vital dedicated time and ability to consider and plan. We were able to use sessions to critically analyse our positioning and approach, and work with our mentor to establish where we are and our way forward”

“[After participating in the Mentoring Program]…we have identified D&I champions, have reviewed policies with a Diversity and Inclusion lens, have presented to the Executive Leadership Team, and will have the overall strategy reviewed to have a stronger focus on Diversity and Inclusion commitments.”

[“Our organisation has benefited in participation in the Mentoring Program by]...being inclusive with decision-making, involving both residents and the workforce, creating safe spaces, and providing opportunities to be heard.”

Mentoring Program Expression of Interest

For further information contact:

Rosemary Fenech (She/Her)

Senior Diversity and Inclusion Advisor

E: rosemary@culturaldiversity.com.au

P: +61 3 8823 9445