Supporting ministries for older people across Sydney

Ministry events 

The following events are offered by CatholicCare Sydney to participating parishes. Events selected by each parish will be based on the interests of their community. CatholicCare welcomes financial contributions from participating parishes to help sustain these activities.

Health and Wellbeing Talks

Hear from CatholicCare’s specialist Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Home Care experts on a range of useful topics to keep parishioners healthy and well. Topics covered will include:

• The Benefits of Exercise
• Brain Health
• Falls Prevention
• Healthy Eating
• Medication Safety
• Osteoporosis
• Sleeplessness

Be Connected – an introduction to the digital world

In partnership with the Australian Government, CatholicCare delivers the Be Connected technology workshops for parishioners 50 years and over, including access to digital devices during the training session. There is a wide range of topics to choose from including the absolute basics, getting started online, safety online, using mobile phones, connecting to others, social media apps and internet banking.

Volunteer Companion Training

Volunteer Companion Training consists of seven foundational modules and one additional module specific to the chosen area of support:

• companioning for older people to reduce loneliness and isolation
• companioning for those going through a difficult transitional period in their lives
• companioning for those with a life-limiting illness and their loved ones

Training is offered face-to-face or online and is supported by CatholicCare’s online learning platform.

Participants are guided through topics such as:

• What is Accompaniment?
• Self-care
• Setting Boundaries
• Loss, Grief and Trauma Informed Care and Response
• Generative Listening and Speaking

The training supports participants to grow their confidence and capacity in being with someone who is isolated, vulnerable and in need of care in a variety of settings and life circumstances.

Ageing Well Masterclasses

Ageing Well brings together a team of clinical experts and professionals in the field of ageing to deliver a six-part masterclass series covering the following topics.

• Masterclass 1: Social Connection and Psychological Wellbeing
  Explores the importance of social connections, discusses mental illness in later life and introduces the 5-ways to wellbeing.
• Masterclass 2: Physical Wellbeing
  Discusses the importance of physical exercise, nutrition, falls prevention, health checks, carer fatigue and memory loss in later life.
• Masterclass 3: Navigating Aged Care outlines the aged care options for older adults from Retirement Living, to Home Care, to Residential Care communities.
• Masterclass 4: Planning for your future - financial and legal decisions
  The NSW Trustee and Guardian discusses the importance of planning for your older age right now and outlines what needs your careful consideration.
• Masterclass 5: Engaging in a digital world and avoiding elder abuse
  Discusses the benefits of embracing digital technologies and outlines some of the essentials of internet safety. This class also discusses identifying and avoiding elder abuse.
• Masterclass 6: Ageing Gracefully, Living Fruitfully
  Explores Catholic spirituality and the blessings and challenges of a more faith-filled life.

^{CatholicCare Sydney delivers Ageing Well in collaboration with Catholic Healthcare and Grief Care.}

Living Well Dying Well 

Living Well Dying Well is a two-part workshop that discusses what it means to live well and how this shapes dying well. An initiative of the Archdiocese of Sydney, it aims to normalise conversations about death and dying so that we are better able to support those with a life-limiting illness and their loved ones.

^{Living Well Dying Well is a collaboration between CatholicCare Sydney, CatholicCare Broken Bay, Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria, Grief Care, University of Notre Dame, St Vincent’s Health Australia and Catholic Healthcare.}

Bereavement Support

In partnership with Grief Care, CatholicCare will deliver specialised training, resources and support to volunteers to enable them to support others in their local community. Support provided will focus on the following key areas:

• planning funerals, practical support and dealing with grief
• pastoral care, companioning and bereavement
• bereavement education