Anastasia Sadovaya is a case manager and Team Leader at St Simeon’s Health Care, and Coordinator of Home Care Services - and a 2018 Generation CommunitY Alumnus. Generation Community is a leadership program for young people, delivered annually by Western Sydney Community Forum, which is aimed at developing knowledge, skills and goals toward a self-defined career in leadership and managerial roles. Over 6 months, participants delve into discovering what motivates them in their work and aspirations, working on ways to constructively harness their strengths and work with any perceived limitations.

Nepean Food Services (NFS) is thriving community service, providing meals and social support for our aged people and people living with disability. Based in Sydney’s Greater West they have a service reach that extends much further inland and across Sydney. The organization is widely recognized for its excellence, and was inducted into the Western Sydney Community Forum’s ZEST Awards Hall of Fame in 2015. Ditte Kozak is the Manager at NFS and has worked with the organization for 25 years.

The 2017 survey of Community Care stakeholders gave strong endorsement to the role of WSCF in providing resources, support and sector engagement for aged care and disability providers in Western Sydney and the Nepean. Specifically, the survey related to providers funded under the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and the Community Care Supports Program (CCSP). Feedback provided anonymously by participants gave insight into the focus, balance and relevance of the work of WSCF, in supporting aged and disability providers, which helps to direct development of priorities and initiatives for the future.

The 2017 survey of Western Sydney/Nepean Food Forum participants reflects a resoundingly positive and valuable experience, resulting in enhanced support, collaboration and improved service delivery. Convened by Western Sydney Community Forum, the Food Forum consists of Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) and Community Care Support Program (CCSP) funded Food Services, CHSP dietitians and other interested service providers from Western Sydney and Nepean regions.

These new online resources, created by Alzheimer’s Australia in partnership with the University of Wollongong and Carers Australia, aim to promote best practice strategies for respite service providers and to assist people with dementia and their carers to navigate the system.

Released by The University of Sydney, these resources include a framework for implementation, community education resources, planning ahead workbooks and brochures on decision making.