North-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Aiv PUGLIELLI (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:48): (1729) My question is to the Minister for Ageing. In my electorate there is a significant number of older people whose first language is Mandarin, Cantonese or other Chinese dialects, and as they reach a time of life where perhaps they find themselves in the situation where they require aged care services, it is really important that they have the option to access culturally appropriate aged care, with staff and services available in their first language. There are not currently, to my understanding, any state-run Chinese residential aged care services in Victoria. There are a few small non-government-operated centres, but that is it. In my electorate, as I am sure you are aware, we are talking about a significant diaspora community, a really, really vibrant and valued group of members of our community, who engage with me regularly, and they need access to this care. So, Minister, will you open a state-run residential aged care centre in my region that is specifically set up to care for our older Chinese community members?