Anglicare welcomes South Korean delegation to share and learn about aged care

Anglicare Sydney welcomed a delegation of South Korean local government officials to the Melva McDonald Lodge in Rooty Hill on 1 November for a time of learning and sharing about the similarities and challenges faced by aged care practitioners in both countries.

The delegation was from Sunchang County Council in South Korea. The group consisted of Jung Sung Kyun, Chairman of Sunchang County Council and 10 other government officials. The main purpose of their visit was to benchmark the aged care services provided in South Korea with those in Australia.

“The visit provided a great opportunity to connect with other aged care providers and share our significant experience in providing a wide variety of aged care services,” says Michael Burke, one of Anglicare’s Partnership Development Officers.

The group chose to tour Melva McDonald Lodge because it is the newest innovation for Anglicare Sydney. Comprising 160 retirement living units and a 90-room residential aged care home, the Rooty Hill retirement community is an ‘Inside-Out Village’.

“The development is Anglicare’s first initiative to incorporate serving our senior citizens with broad-based community engagement spaces. The Inside-Out model enhances both the Rooty Hill community and those living in residential aged care and retirement units. By doing this Anglicare is providing sustainable communities. Seniors remain connected to the community and its services but also have easy access to shops and services without the need for transport,” says Mr Burke.

The delegation was especially interested in understanding the nature of not-for-profit aged care and Anglicare’s philosophy of Christian care, as well as the profile of Anglicare residents, the kind of staff we employ, the frequency of visits by medical practitioners and the funding model used by Anglicare.

The group were each presented with a copy of the 2019 Annual Report.

“We hope this visit provides the Sunchang Country Council with ideas for new innovative ways to provide services for their seniors,” says Mr Burke.

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