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Do you speak Filipino, Hindi, Mandarin, or Nepali?
DREAM needs your help!
UTAS is in the process of translating the Dementia education resources into several languages: Nepali, Hindi, Filipino and Chinese (simplified).
To do this well, they are looking for people in the Australian aged care workforce with these spoken and written language skills to support the development of introductions that explain the translations and provide language specific contextual information.
If you are interested to support this translation project, have further questions or would like to discuss the role in greater detail you are invited to reach out to robyn.higgins@utas.edu.au or Azam at azam.bazooband@utas.edu.au.
Details are below:
Focus Group Participants – Translation of Dementia Respite Education and Mentoring.
Background:
DREAM (Dementia Respite Education and Mentoring) is a national program that provides the aged care workforce with online dementia care education, an online dementia network, and face-to-face coaching. The free online education includes five dementia respite care specific modules.
DREAM is funded by the Australian Government and developed by the Wicking Dementia Centre in collaboration with Dementia Support Australia. You can find out more about the program here and sign up to access the education and additional resources: https://dream.utas.edu.au/
UTAS has been recently funded to translate these five modules into the four of the most commonly spoken languages of the CALD aged care workforce (the data we used is from the Aged Care Worker Survey 2024 report (November 2024)). The data showed that, outside English-speaking countries, most respondents were born in:
- Philippines
- Nepal
- India
- China
The languages we have chosen to translate based on advice from the sector are:
- Filipino
- Hindi
- Mandarin (simplified Chinese script )
- Nepali
To ensure the quality and usefulness of the intended materials, they are seeking to co-design short introductory scripts to each language with 2-3 aged care workers to explain the purpose of translating the materials and provide any culturally specific contextual information relevant to the use of these educational modules.
Information on Focus Group Role:
Requirements: they are seeking 2-3 language speakers who have substantial experience (2-3 years) in aged care in either the home care or residential setting with some direct experience of working with people with dementia.
Time commitment: The time commitment is just under 4 hours and includes participating in a briefing, reviewing the education modules, participating in a discussion group, and reviewing the draft script.
Briefing (30 min)
Attend short introductory briefing online on the project and script development run by the Language and Workforce Expert and Academic Lead. (time and date negotiated with participants)
Background Preparation (1 hr 40 mins):
Generate a login at https://dream.utas.edu.au/, read each short module introduction, and watch the film in each module for:
- Unpacking Dementia
- Navigating Behaviours
- Relationships and Communication
- Knowing the Person
- Planning for Success
Collaborative Session (1 hour)
Participate in an interactive online discussion coordinated and led by the Language and Workforce Expert and Academic Lead (time and date negotiated with participants)
Script Review (30 mins)
Review and approve or communicate feedback via email (within 2-3 days of receipt)
Honorarium: Focus group participants will be offered a $200 visa/eftpos gift card to compensate them for their time and efforts.
Resources
University of Tasmania (UTAS): 2022-2023
Australian Government funded Equip Aged Care Learning Packages
The PICAC Alliance was a member of the Expert Advisory Group (EAG). The Equip Aged Care Learning program is a free of charge learning opportunity for the aged care industry workforce.
Project led by Sue Quarmby, Wicking Dementia Research & Education Centre, University of Tasmania
Community Consultations
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care commissioned the Health and Social Care Unit (Monash University) to promote cancer screening amongst multicultural communities in Australia (focusing on three types of screening: bowel, breast and cervical).
A PICAC Alliance representative was a member of the Preventive Health Communications and Engagement Working Group.
Multicultural Aged Care (PICAC SA) facilitated two community consultations.
Project led by Professor Helen Skouteris
Consultation Report for Participants
Research Projects
Torrens University: 2022-2025
The IMproving the PArticipAtion of older people in policy decision-making on common health CondiTions (IMPAACT) study aims to draw out the values and preferences of evidence-informed older people (including those within vulnerable and under-represented groups) on early screening and diagnosis of several common ageing-related conditions within the community (frailty, diabetes, dementia and, cardiovascular disease).
A PICAC Alliance representative is an Associate Investigator.
Project led by Dr. Rachel Ambagtsheer
IMPAACT: Improving the participation of older people in policy decision-making on common health conditions – A study protocol.
Ambagtsheer, R. C., Hurley, C. J., Lawless, M., Braunack-Mayer, A., Visvanathan, R., Beilby, J., Stewart, S., Cornell, V., Leach, M. J., Taylor, D., Thompson, M., Dent, E., Whiteway, L., Archibald, M., O’Rourke, H. M., Williams, K., & Chudecka, A. (2024). IMPAACT: Improving the participation of older people in policy decision-making on common health conditions – A study protocol. BMJ Open, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075501
Older people’s perspectives on frailty screening in primary care settings – a citizens’ jury study.
Braunack-Mayer, A., Street, J. M., Reader, C., O’Brien, L. M., Dent, E., Fabrianesi, B., Chudecka, A., Visvanathan, R., Beilby, J., Lawless, M., & Ambagtsheer, R. C. (2024). Older people’s perspectives on frailty screening in primary care settings – a citizens’ jury study. BMC Primary Care, 25(1), 407. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-024-02626-8
National Ageing Research Institute: 2021-2024
Draw-Care: This study aims to improve the lives of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) family carers and people living with dementia. Researchers are testing whether culturally adapted, multilingual online resources are an effective way to support family carers, reduce carer burden and improve mood and quality of life for carers and the person living with dementia. The resources include a website, short animated films and information sheets in 10 languages which were co-designed with family carers and health service providers.
Access the Draw-Care Flyer by clicking here.
A PICAC Alliance representative is a member of Stakeholder Advisory Group.
Project led by Associate Professor Bianca Brijnath
Flinders University: 2021-2025
Creating partnerships in the iSupport program to optimise carers’ impact on dementia care.
PICAC Alliance representatives are Associate Investigators.
Project led by Professor Lily Dongxia Xiao
University of Melbourne: 2022-2026
- Implementation of a co-designed exercise and fall prevention program for older people from CALD backgrounds; followed by
- Implementation and evaluation of a co-designed exercise program to reduce falls in older people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities (MOVETogether); followed by
- Implementation of a co-designed, community led exercise program to reduce falls in older people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities: A pilot trial
A PICAC Alliance representative is an Associate Investigator.
Project led by Associate Professor Catherine Said
MOVETogether Newsletter in multiple languages:
University of Melbourne: 2023-2025
MINDCARE: Co-producing a dementia risk reduction program for CALD communities to improve health self-efficacy.
The MindCare project aims to raise awareness of modifiable lifestyle factors that can reduce the risk of developing dementia in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, and thus increase health self-efficacy and empower consumers to take action to improve their health and reduce their risk of dementia. The program will be co-created with consumers from Vietnamese-, Hindi-, Greek-, and Arabic-speaking communities, and delivered via community-based educators.
PICAC Alliance representatives are members of Stakeholder Advisory Group.
Project led by Dr. Josefine Antoniades
La Trobe University: 2023-2026
MINDCARE: This project is an initiative focused on reducing the prevalence of dementia in Australia, particularly within Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. It aims to enhance self-efficacy, dementia literacy, and risk reduction through culturally tailored education.
The program includes three key projects:
- MindCare: Co-designing a community-based dementia risk reduction program for Arabic-, Greek-, Hindi-, and Vietnamese-speaking communities.
- MindCare4Women: Tailoring dementia education for CALD women from Greek, Vietnamese, Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi, and Sub-Saharan African backgrounds.
- MindCare Digital: Developing a culturally adapted digital health intervention for dementia prevention targeting South Asian, Middle Eastern, Sub-Saharan African, and Pacific Islander communities.
These projects collectively focus on delivering accessible and culturally responsive dementia prevention strategies, aiming to empower communities with knowledge and tools for better health management.
Project led by Professor Bianca Brijnath and Associate Professor Josefine Antoniades
