聯邦政府11月1日開始推行長者護理政策改革, 實施了以長者權益為基礎的法案。

對於多元文化的長者來說, 這表示政府有責任提供與他們原來文化適切的護理服務。因此若華人長者無法使用英語溝通的話, 政府要提供一定程度的翻譯, 或是要求護理服務提供者, 提供溝通支援。

不過, 法例如何落實, 就涉及聯邦政府如何設訂準則, 達到這一個要求。對於家居照顧提供者, 現時政府鼓勵服務機構, 提供不同語言的長者護理工作員。不過, 在長者護理設施之中, 如何確保不懂英語的長者, 如何能得到適切的服務, 聯邦政府則沒有具體說明。

對華人長者來說, 不懂英語的長者比例極高, 因此這是華人社區要特別關注的情況。現時墨爾本以提供中文護理服務的護理床位只有200多張, 明顯地不足, 因此不少華裔長者只能住進員工主要說英語的護理設施之中。華人長者較多的設施, 大多會聘請一些會說普通話或廣東話的員工, 不過, 在法例實施後, 如何評估這樣的支援是否足夠, 就是華人社區要關注的問題。這也變成華人長者要去爭取的權益。

上一期專題, 我們提及維州工黨政府自2014年提議興建給華人長者居住的護理設施, 現在已變成聯邦法例規定享有的基本權益。亦即是說聯邦政府有責任與州政府、行業、及相關組織, 一起來落實這政策的執行。不過, 維州政府在去年把興建兩所給華人及兩所給印度人的長者護理設施, 交給主流服務機構, 而不邀請華裔或印裔社區組織來承辦, 很大程度是違反了這法案的精神。

維州政府要向這些族裔的社區解釋, 它如何能確保申辦機構, 有能力或是足夠經驗, 可以管理及提供適合這些少數族裔長者文化及語言的護理服務。現時我們仍未知道招標結果, 但我相信維州政府是不能逃避, 依從今個月開始實施的聯邦新法案精神。

我相信華人社區, 要積極提醒維州政府落實這新法案, 而不是讓事情輕輕帶過, 說了就當是做了。作為華人社區媒體, 《同路人》會督促及監察維州政府落實這政策。

周偉文, 社長

Implementation of the new Aged Care Act based on elder-rights 

The federal government began implementing reforms to aged care policy on 1 November, executing legislation based on the rights of elderly. For seniors from multicultural backgrounds, this means the government now has a responsibility to provide care services that are culturally appropriate. Therefore, if Chinese seniors are unable to communicate in English, the government must provide a certain level of translation or require care providers to offer suitable communication support.

However, how this legislation will actually be implemented depends on how the federal government sets the standards needed to meet these requirements. For home-care providers, the government currently encourages service organisations to hire aged-care workers who speak different languages. But for residential aged-care facilities, the government has not clearly explained how it will ensure that seniors who do not speak English can receive appropriate services.

Among Chinese seniors, the proportion of those who do not speak English is very high, so this is an issue of particular concern for the Chinese community. At present, Melbourne has only slightly more than 200 aged-care beds offering Chinese-language services—a clearly insufficient number. As a result, many Chinese seniors can only live in facilities where staff mainly speak English. Facilities with more Chinese residents often hire some staff who speak Mandarin or Cantonese, but after the new legislation takes effect, how to evaluate whether this level of support is adequate becomes a matter the Chinese community must monitor. This also becomes a right that Chinese seniors need to advocate for.

In the previous issue, we mentioned that the Victorian Labor government proposed in 2014 to build aged-care facilities specifically for Chinese seniors. This has now become a basic right guaranteed by legislation. In other words, the federal government has a responsibility to work with the state government, the industry, and relevant organisations to ensure this policy is properly implemented. However, last year the Victorian government handed over the construction of two aged-care facilities for Chinese seniors and two for Indian seniors to mainstream service organisations, without inviting Chinese or Indian community organisations to participate. This move largely contradicts the spirit of the legislation.

The Victorian government must explain to these communities how it will ensure that the chosen organizations have the capability or experience to manage and deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate care services for these minority-ethnic seniors. We still do not know the outcome of the tender, but I believe the Victorian government must not avoid adhering to the spirit of the new federal legislation that came into effect this month.

I believe the Chinese community must actively remind the Victorian government to properly implement this new law, rather than let the matter be brushed aside—saying something as though it has been done. As a media outlet serving the Chinese community, Sameway will continue to urge and monitor the Victorian government in carrying out this policy.

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher