WELCOME!
Simon Margan
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We hope that there is some use dialogue that comes from his forum that provides ILGA Oceania, and the new Elder Subcommittee Chair (Feel free to nominate yourself!), with some direction on its Elder Portfolio. Feel free to start threads for constructive discussion and even poll the group about what they feel on issues.
Ken Tue 20 Oct 2020 11:07AM
To get the ball rolling it was a year ago the highlight of October 2019 for me as the ElderPortfolio was attending the 4th National LGBT &IAgeing and Age Care conference. Held inMelbourne at the Novotel Melbourne on Collins,which I self-funded owing to limited resources attributed to my portfolio.This Conference was held on the 24 & 25 October2019, this was preceded by the 3rd NationalLGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Round Table at thesame venue on the23 October 2019. This wascoordinated by the Silver Pride LGBTIQ Ageingand Aged Care under the auspice of the LGBTINational Health Alliance Australia.I facilitated a workshop and spoke to: Explore what resources are needed to support spirituality and endof life planning for LGBTI people from a spiritualperspective, highlighting my role as a Chaplain at Palliative Wards at Gold Coast Hospital. and theHopewell Hospice, Gold Coast, Queensland.,Australia.The LGBT&I Ageing and Aged Care conference is the leading event in Australia for aged, health andhuman service providers to develop their
knowledge, skills and practice to meet the needs ofLGBT&I consumers.Over two days, the conference heard the voices and understand the experiences of LGBT&I olderpeople. It explored new perspectives in ageing and aged care policy and practice with leaders in thefield to build on the foundations of LGBT&I inclusive practice achieved over the past decade. It examined the new landscape of LGBT&I ageingand aged care policy and practice in Australia, andhow together the conference can achieve healthyageing outcomes for LGBT&I people as they age.Some of the keynote speakers were:· ItaButtroseAC,OBE - Chair Australian BroadcastingCorporation, 2013 Australian of the Year, HealthAdvocate & Campaigner for the needs & rights ofolder Australians, former Chair of the NationalAdvisory Committee on AIDS (NACAIDS). As well as GeorginaBeyer, Politician and human rightsadvocate and world’s first openly transgendermayor and member of Parliament in New Zealand.· GeorginaBeyer, Politician and human rightsadvocate and world’s first openly transgendermayor and member of Parliament in New Zealand.
Some issues that were presented:The importance of the Charter of Aged Care Rightsfor our LGBTI Elders
Dementia
How is Australia’s first-generation PLHIV living inAustralia experiencing ageing? Living longer withHIV.Supporting Diversity Planning and practice.We deserve respectful relationships forTransgender people.
Dying Well,
LGBTI elders and elder abuse.
The main themes included:LGBTI Elders:
personal stories, respect, identity,dignity, and empowerment.Service Providers: Policy & Planning, Research,Integrity, Delivery and EducationAreas that need addressing
• Older people are likely to have experienced ahistory of stigma, isolation and criminalisation ofhomosexuality during most of their lifetime, andthis can have consequences for how private anddiscreet some individuals are about their sexuality
•A trend of returning to live in ‘the closet’ onceentering aged care due to a fear of discriminationand misunderstanding in a new communalenvironment• There may be health consequences ofnot being ‘out’ in aged care in accessing particulartreatments that may be required, for example forpeople living with HIV/AIDS.
• Higher fees paid for residential care by same-sexcouples
• Aged care policies and codes notacknowledge same-sex couples
• Staff not acceptingsame-sex relationships as legitimate or recognizingchosen families• Lack of staff training inunderstanding LGBTI populations and issues.
So please free to have your say??
Ken · Tue 20 Oct 2020 10:58AM
My name is Ken Moala, I am currently the Convenor of the ILGA Oceania Elder Portfolio, I welcome you all especially I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather throughout this fine country of ours today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present and emerging. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today. This land was never ceeded, it will always be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. I also pay homage to all the LGBTIQ Elders throughout Oceania which includes Pacific Islands, Aotearoa/New Zealand & Australia upon whose shoulders I stand . Please free to post respectfully.