Umbrella Multicultural Community Care Services Inc. has officially unveiled its Strategic Plan for 2024-2028.
The event was attended by Minister for Seniors and Ageing Hon Don Punch MLA, along with other dignitaries, staff members, supporters, leaders, and Umbrella’s Board.
Held at Umbrella’s social support centre, that provides a home away from home for more than 400 multicultural and LGBTIQ+ older Australians, enabling them to stay socially connected.
Umbrella was founded almost 25 years ago by its current board president, Anna Harrison AM JP, and provides home care and social support to multicultural and LGBTIQ+ clients across the Perth metro and Peel region.
Ms Harrison said the national aged care reforms would be keeping Umbrella on its toes for the next two years.
“As we embark on a new strategic direction, we will do it with the same passion that we have for the wellbeing of our over 1,000 dear clients, who are, and will remain, firmly at the centre of everything we do,” she said.
Minister Punch said he was delighted to see that one of the four key objectives of the Strategic Plan was to ensure Umbrella had the “happiest clients”. He spoke about the importance of ensuring that older Australians are fully supported to continue leading lives of purpose and connection and are not subjected to ageism in the workplace or by service providers.
Umbrella Inc.’s CEO, Henrietta Podgorska, expressed enthusiasm for the organisation’s future. “Umbrella has always been about people—our clients, staff, volunteers, and the wider community. “Ms. Podgorska said. “It’s been an incredible journey to finalise this plan. This strategic plan reflects our values, resilience, and ambition to continue setting inclusive aged care standards. As we embark on the next phase of our journey, we do so with confidence, knowing that together, we can continue to deliver high-quality, culturally appropriate services that make a real difference in the lives of seniors, their families and communities across Western Australia.”
Umbrella vice-president Marika Krstevska, who is the 2023 Western Australian Seniors Advocate of the Year, described Umbrella at the event as the “United Nations of Aged Care”. “It was wonderful to have all three major political parties represented here today because diversity is our speciality, and we never let politics divide us. One of the most wonderful things about Umbrella is that, when our clients meet here at the social support centre for activities and excursions, they represent 71 different countries of birth, speak 61 different languages, and include members of the LGBTIQ+ community,” she said.
Other special guests at the event included Shadow Minister for Seniors & Ageing Hon Donna Faragher MLC, Member for South Metro Region Hon Dr Brad Pettitt MLC and representatives from partner organisations in the multicultural and aged care sectors.
For a digital copy of Umbrella’s Strategic Plan 2024-2028, go to:
