Jewish Online News from Australia and New Zealand
Jewish Care with the help of the community, supports the vulnerable, provides aid in times of hardship and crisis and creates opportunities to support and enhance the wellbeing of the Jewish community of Victoria.
General Switchboard: (03) 8517 5999
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Jewish Care’s Mission
Supporting and enhancing the wellbeing of the Jewish community of Victoria.
November 29, 2011 by Ayal Tusia
Over 100 people heard a positive organisational overview of the milestones and achievements of the past financial year and the future directions, outlined in the strategic plan 2011 Towards Tomorrow, delivered by the President, Bruce Rosengarten and the Chief Executive Officer, Bill Appleby at Jewish Care Victoria’s AGM.
Jewish Care President Bruce Rosengarten, Prof Andrew Markus, Peter Mares, Susanne Macri AM, Bill Appleby and Gerard Mansour
A thought-provoking panel discussion on ‘Ageing and Caring for Older Australians’ followed, professionally hosted by ABC Radio National Broadcaster and Journalist, Peter Mares.
Distinguished panelists included Prof. Andrew Markus of the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation at Monash University and principal author of the ‘Report on Older Australians’; Susanne Macri AM, Former Associate Commissioner, Productivity Commission – Inquiry into Caring for Older Australians; and Gerard Mansour, CEO, Aged & Community Care Victoria (ACCV).
Topics under discussion included various issues currently facing the Jewish and broader Australian community, such as:
Susanne Macri shed light on the government initiatives through the Productivity Commission’s comprehensive inquiry into Australia’s aged care arrangements. Ms. Macri highlighted key recommendations and the looming demographics of ageing: the fact that the recent Intergenerational Report forecasts that by 2050, nearly 25% of Australians will be over 65, compared with 13% today.
“This trend will happen much earlier in the Jewish community, and other post second world war migrant communities,” responded Prof Markus, who states in his Report that in Victoria and NSW, more than 18% of the Jewish population are aged over 65, in contrast to the general community with 13.5% (figures based on the 2006 Census). As a result of the ageing population, Australia’s Jewish communities have some exciting challenges ahead in the provision of senior services.
Ms. Macri also mentioned the Productivity Commission’s report focus on the need for services that empower the older person, offering flexibility, choice, access and long-term sustainability. The recommendation is a move to a more consumer-based, flexible, entitlement based system.
Mr. Mansour stressed that “the aged care industry, now on the political radar, has to adjust its care provision both in aged care homes and in people’s own homes. It’s about balance and providing options, with simplified rules in place for different types of accommodation, care and services.”
The panelists agreed that the majority of members of any community would prefer to stay at home in their elderly years and be supported by aged care services if the need arises. Also, “healthy ageing is an important issue going forward and how we look after people; encourage independence; self determination and social connectivity,” said Ms. Macri.
“There’s a real need to grow capacity within Jewish Care to support people’s desire to remain living independently in their homes for as long a possible”, says Mr. Appleby. “Jewish Care is expanding its carer support programs, community services, respite options, as well as our Healthy Ageing Programs to support people to remain healthy, happy, informed and connected.
Ms. Macri highlighted the major issue of the workforce, specifically the formal sector including nurses, personal care assistants and other allied health professionals. The panel agreed that the Government needs to address this issue and find innovative ways of recruiting and retaining skill staff within the sector, making it an industry of choice.
“We are striving to meet the demands and expectations heading towards 2030, and improve the provision of our culturally-specific services, with the complexities of an ethnically and religiously diverse community. We are very aware that meeting these distinctive needs means fully understanding shifts in government social policy and adapting our environments, resources and services appropriately for the evolving community.
“Jewish Care is passionate about taking the steps needed to be prepared for what lies ahead. Knowledge is an expensive investment, however ignorance is unaffordable” said Mr. Appleby, in closing the discussion.
September 22, 2011 by Ayal Tusia
Jewish Care Victoria, in conjunction with the Pratt Foundation, is proud to announce the launch of its new and exciting B’nei Mitzvah Program – a first of its kind Australian initiative, aiming to connect a new generation of young Jewish people to the concept of tzedakah and philanthropy.
Tzedakah, while often financial in nature, is also about sharing what you have with others, be it your time, skills, experience or talents. The reward is in the giving.
The program is designed for young adults celebrating their Bar/Bat Mitzvah, which marks the crucially important stage in one’s life and signifies a turning point in one’s transition into adulthood. As such, it is the perfect time for youth to become actively involved with Jewish Care and the wider community.
The Pratt Foundation generously supports the B’nei Mitzvah Program by matching each donation dollar for dollar. “We believe that young Jewish people at age 12 or 13 are ideal candidates for learning first-hand about how giving can make a difference,” said Sam Lipski, Pratt Foundation’s CEO. “We hope that this experience will become a life-long memory, just like the Bar or Bat Mitzvah itself.”
This unique initiative allows young Jewish adults to develop an appreciation for the vital services that support and enhance the wellbeing of the Victorian Jewish community.
All funds raised by the B’nei Mitzvah program are used for Jewish Care’s social justice programs such as financial aid, employment creation, housing support, counselling, disability respite and other needed community support services.
“Learning the need to be a part of community and to add to its wellbeing and growth is contributing to its successful continuity,” said Bruce Rosengarten, President of Jewish Care.
The B’nei Mitzvah Program promotes a sense of communal responsibility and empowers young adults to assist Jewish Care in turning lives around, together.
If you would like to take part in the B’nei Mitzvah Program, please contact Emma Boyar on (03) 8517 5933 or mitzvah@jewishcare.org.au. You can also visit our B’nei Mitzvah web page at www.jewishcare.org.au/mitzvah
September 7, 2011 by admin
Jewish Care has announced the engagement of three major providers for the supply of cleaning, linen and food services across all Melbourne Jewish Care facilities.
Bill Appleby(CEO, Jewish Care), Nigel Edwards (Procurement Manager, Jewish Care), Bas Van Uyen (AFA Corp), Domenic Fazzolari (AFA Corp), Bruce Rosengarten (President, Jewish Care), Michael Schoenfeld (Treasurer, Jewish Care), Ken Knocker (Linencare), Joanne Ludowyke and Lincoln Ludowyke (Lincjo Care)
Lincjo Care, Linencare and AFA Corp, will provide cleaning, linen and food services respectively to ensure that our reputable high levels of service and quality are carried through.
Bill Appleby, CEO says, “The quality of food, the cleanliness of the environment and the attitude of staff are all highly visible and noticeable facets of how Jewish Care presents itself. We believe that clients, families and staff will see the positive changes being made.”
Jewish Care supplier relationships are overseen by Nigel Edwards, Procurement Manager, whose appointment last year formed part of Jewish Care’s renewal program for service and quality improvement.
The supplier selection process focused on providing quality outcomes for our clients and the community at large. “The methodology undertaken was rigourous while always ensuring that the suppliers chosen demonstrated a professionalism and commitment to customer service that aligns closely to our organisation’s service charter, values and ethos,” Appleby said.
“Everything we do at Jewish Care promotes our focus on customer service, value for money and transparent decision making. This is a significant step forward in service provision that will ensure Jewish Care residents are cared for and serviced in the best possible way,” says Appleby.
We would like to acknowledge the services of the outgoing providers and thank them for their contribution to Jewish Care.
August 16, 2011 by Ayal Tusia
Melbourne’s Jewish Care has announced the appointment of Daniel Goodman as Chief Financial Officer.
Daniel Goodman
Daniel joins Jewish Care next month bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise. With over 10 years commercial experience in the financial services sector, Daniel has played a key role in the success of many organisations, more recently in his position as Chief Financial Officer of the Mizrachi Organisation.
“We are delighted to welcome Daniel to Jewish Care. His reputation and experience, locally and abroad, shows that he is an outstanding individual. We are particularly impressed with his dedication to supporting the wider Jewish community, which clearly aligns with Jewish Care’s mission and values,” says Bill Appleby, Jewish Care CEO.
Daniel demonstrates an outstanding history of financial management and leadership. In his positions, he has managed and led financial teams and provided financial support for various projects that resulted in increased revenue for the companies he has worked with, both in South Africa and Australia.
“We look forward to Daniel joining the Jewish Care team and seeing him develop in this role. His experience and contribution will undoubtedly be of great value for Jewish Care,” adds Appleby.
August 10, 2011 by Ayal Tusia
This month, staff at Jewish Care joined over 50,000 Australians supporting the ‘Every Australian Counts’ campaign for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) by sharing in a ‘DisabiliTea’ morning tea.
Enjoying their DisabiliTea
The NDIS aims to change the way people with a disability, their families and carers are supported in our lucky country – transforming the way services are funded and delivered so that people are able to access much needed support with dignity, choice and self determination.
Says Bill Appleby, Jewish Care CEO, “We encourage broad communal participation in this critically important public awareness campaign ‘Every Australian Counts’. This is a once in a generation opportunity to fix what is fundamentally broken. What is effectively a funding lottery administered by individual states that do not have the tax base to pay for it. 4.5 million Australians have a disability of some kind. Of these, 760,000 people under 65 years of age have a severe or profound disability, meaning they always or sometimes need help with a core activity or task. This is not a sector issue but moreover a whole of society issue. Australia needs to change its attitude and work towards creating real inclusive communities so that every Australian can realise their potential.”
Jewish Care plays an integral role in providing support to individuals with a disability in the Jewish community through the provision of a number of services and programs designed to support inclusion.
Jewish Care is the only Victorian registered disability service provider offering services uniquely for the Victorian Jewish community. Disability services at Jewish Care focus on providing tailored support to those with a disability including respite services, housing and home support, employment services, all abilities sports programs, mental health programs as well as the provision of case managers who provide individual support.
“We endorse this campaign as it fundamentally challenges us to collectively think about the sort of society we want our children to live in,” Appleby adds.
