Kumusta Ka Update - 06 July 2006

In 2003, The Centre for Philippine Concerns Australia initiated to call on Filipino families and their older members to come together and look at ways to address the needs of ageing Filipinos in the Eastern Region of Melbourne. Through CPCA's submission to local and state governments, our community received funding from Home and Community Care Services to deliver "Kumusta Ka?" Friendly Visiting Program to Filipino Seniors in the Eastern and Southern Metro Regions.

The Friendly Visiting Program is coordinated from the Migrant Information Centre (MIC) Office where our Coordinated is co-located every Thursday. With the assistance of the Multicultural Equity and Access Program Officer of MIC, we developed the Cultural Planned Activity Group Model with Burwood Community Centre. In this service model, the Filipino seniors meet once a week as a combined group with another existing PAG at the Centre and on the following week, they meet on their own as a Filipino Seniors Club. The Knox Volunteer Transport provides transport support to 10 participants. This model has been successful for three years now.

The Salaginto Filipino Senior Citizens Club established in 2003 has been the focal point for many older persons and their families in the Eastern Region. The President of the Club is Mrs Ching Chavarria. Fore more information about this club and their current activities see the link on Salaginto Filipino Seniors Club.

Below are some recent photos:













Kumusta Ka runs both for Eastern and South Eastern regions. For information on "Kumusta Ka?" Friendly Visiting Program, please contact:

Mirasol Bottomley
Eastern Volunteers Coordinator
(03) 9873-1666

Virgie Wright
South Eastern Volunteers Coordinator
(03) 9791-8366