A traditional Welcome to Country by Gunaikurnai Elder, Alfie Hudson, at Uniting AgeWell’s Bairnsdale Community Services office, helped mark the symbolic transfer of Home Care Packages to the organisation from Uniting Care Gippsland.
About 40 people attended the event in Bairnsdale on Tuesday, February 7, including Uniting AgeWell CEO Andrew Kinnersly, Uniting AgeWell Board Chair Rev Allan Thompson, and Uniting Care Gippsland Acting CEO Graeme Coull.
Uniting AgeWell took over 25 Level 2 Home Care Packages (HCPs) last September, following an agreement between the boards of Uniting AgeWell and UnitingCare Gippsland. They complement the 15 Level 3 and 4 Packages UA received in the 2015 Aged Care Approvals Round.
Graeme presented Allan with a HCP “box”, symbolising the wide range of tailored services provided to clients.
“This box is empty, because all home care packages are different,” he said.
The transfer of HCPs in Gippsland to Uniting AgeWell has sentimental value to Allan, a former Uniting Church Minister in Bairnsdale from 1971 to 1978.
“East Gippsland is a lovely area filled with picturesque rivers, lakes, mountains and friendly residents,” he said.
“We are committed to supporting seniors across regional, rural and remote communities and will continue looking for opportunities to further expand our geographical reach.”
Uniting AgeWell CEO Andrew Kinnersly praised and thanked staff involved in the transition for ensuring there were no changes in the services clients received.
“It has been a very successful and seamless transition,” he said.
Alfie Hudson presented Uniting AgeWell with a print by one of his indigenous art students, which portrays the Gunaikurnai totem Blue Wren.
He said he was touched to be invited to do the Welcome to Country, which indicated the great relationship Uniting AgeWell had with the region and respect for the indigenous residents.
Uniting AgeWell Gippsland Community Services is located at 49 McCulloch Street, Bairnsdale and can be contacted on 5152 9699.