Hundreds of people enjoyed a colourful program of multicultural entertainment today at the St George Aged Care Expo, held at Rockdale Town Hall.
The annual event is held for people who are over 65 or their carers, indigenous Australians over 50, and people from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background who want to continue living independently at home.
More than 30 different communities were presented including Coptic, Indian, Nepalese, Italian, Croatian, Chinese, Muslim and Greek showing that the St George area is the hub of multicultural concentration.
They were able to talk to providers about nursing care, meal preparation, shopping services, transport, home modification and social support groups.
More 40 exhibitors included St George Meals on Wheels, Nurses on Wheels, Multicultural Aged Care, Wesley Mission, St George Community Transport, Multilingual Aged Care and Advance Diversity Diversity Services.
In the first hour of the expo an estimated 300 people had passed through the door and organisers were expecting well over 1500 by the end of the day.
More than 20 buses brought visitors, their families and carers. Food was provided by workers from Nova Employment.
As well as talking to exhibitors, visitors were treated to a full program of entertainment reflecting the rich multi-cultural life of St George including dancers from Asian Women at Work, the Nepalese Grandparents Choir and even a Zumba dancer.
“We are trying to make sure people in St George are made well-aware of the aged care services in the area,” the event organiser, Sydney Community Forum’s Maryana Nasour said.
“This is important because we want the aged to be able to stay at home and live independently longer.
“The expo is a one-stop place for everything people require to live at home independently including domestic assistance, personal care, medical services, transport and social group support.
“And it is important that the government should continue to support the service providers so they can continue their important work.”
Kingsgrove Community Services executive officer Anne Farah-Hill said it was important to have the social support services to keep people in their own home and keep them independent.
“If it wasn’t for events like this many people would not be aware of all the services available to them to help them stay independent,” she said.
“It is about empowering people and informing them of the diversity of services available so they can make their own decisions.
“The expo brings us together, both the support workers and the multicultural communities.”