Part 2 - Co.As.It Community Services

Co.As.It. is very excited to be
able to offer the Italian person
on a home care package a friend
who will visit them through the
Community Visitors Scheme.
These visits provide social
contact and companionship and
the volunteers are screened and
trained before being matched to
the home owner.
Many elderly with health
or mobility problems suffer
loneliness miss out on seeing
friends and have a very limited
social life. A regular visit from
a matched volunteer can enrich
the life of an elderly person
and reduce isolation from the
wider community. The visits
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are very rewarding and can help
the person feel more valued and
respected.
A visit from a volunteer
distracts the person, provides
companionship and stimulates
memory and interaction. Some
of the activities enjoyed are
card games, listening to music,
chatting, reminiscing about the
old days and gazing through
photo albums. What they value
most is the time spent together.
Wonderful feedback from
volunteers and clients tells us
that both parties eagerly look
forward to the visits- strong
friendships are formed and
greatly appreciated. One
volunteer in particular was very
happy to report that the regular
card game shared with his
matched client brought much
delight to both parties.
We look forward to increasing
this very worthwhile in-home
visiting scheme, but with any
volunteer scheme we are
reliant on the wider community
offering their time as a
volunteer.
So if you can afford one hour
per fortnight to become an
in-home volunteer and visit a
lonely person, we would love to
hear from you.
We all seek to find activities
that are engaging, make us feel
useful and are enjoyable.
If you are visiting a person
living with dementia, it may be
difficult to complete activities
that they have done well all of
their life.
that make the activity fun.
Don’t stress if things don’t get
completed because it is never
about the outcome of the
activity, what is more important
is the interaction and enhancing
of the person’s wellbeing.
Artistic activities
• Sort photos by topic, subject,
If planning things to do, ensure
type or date. Mix them up
that tasks are meaningful and
after you finish so they can be
that there is an identified
sorted in a different way next
purpose.
time.
• Assemble a photo collage.
Engaging in regular activities
Pasting can be fun, make a
is crucial to well-being. In the
scrapbook, pasting photos
past ten years, research has
onto the pages and writing
shown that doing activities plays notes about the memory
a large part in preventing the
beside the photo. You can
progression of dementia.
also use a photo album with
plastic sleeves.
Doing activities with another
• Reminisce about the focus of
person is fun but studies also
the photo.
show that socializing prevents
• Painting or coloring- in that
loneliness, despair and suicidal
it is adult appropriate e.g.
thoughts.
mandalas, kaleidoscopes.
• String beads or popcorn.
There are many activities that
• Make door wreaths and
are appropriate for people with window decorations.
dementia. The only guideline is • Create gift cards.
to not humiliate them by having
them do children’s activities.
Sorting & organizing activities
Sort or organize:
Instead, show your respect
• Nails, screws and other
by engaging them in pastimes
hardware.
that are suitable for an adult,
• Nail polish and lipsticks,
retaining whatever qualities
sorting by color, brand or
on a scale of 1–10, in order of
preference.
• Buttons, using muffin tins to
sort by color, size or style.
• Coins, according to date,
value or place of origin.
• The pantry, arranging cans
and jars by size, brand or
contents.
• The cutlery drawer,
rearranging the order of the
forks, spoons and knives.
• Playing cards into decks that
match, or into suits within a
deck, or by numbers.
• Tupperware by size or color.
• M&Ms, using muffin tins to
sort them by color. Choose
one color to eat!
• Assembling model kits of
airplanes or cars.
• Making strings of paper clips,
using different colors and
sizes.
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You are invited to Co.As.It.’s
ANNUAL FORUMS 2015
“There’s no place like home”
This forum will bring together professionals across the fields
of health and well-being, re-ablement and support services
Book your place, don’t miss out!
Contact Co.As.It.
Brisbane 3262 5755
Gold
5527
6481
GoldCoast
Coast 5527
6481
Co.As.It. Community Services
has once again commemorated
the Italian Republic Day with
its annual festive event held at
the Brisbane Abruzzo Club on
Sunday 31 May, 2015.
and Minister for Multicultural
Affairs, Ms Mariangela Stagnitti
(President of Com.It.Es. for
Queensland and Northern
Territory) and Councillor Norm
Wyndham (McDowall Ward).
meal was enjoyed by all and
the celebratory mood of the
day continued well into the
afternoon with raffles, music
and dancing by Walter Morellato
from the “Two Cappuccinos”.
The event was attended by
over 200 people and a number
of distinguished guests amongst
whom Dott. Ludovico Carlo
Camussi (Italian Consul for
Queensland and Northern
Territory), Mr. Peter Russo
MP (Member for Sunnybank)
representing The Premier of
Queensland Hon. Annastacia
Palaszczuk MP, Mrs Grace
Grace MP (Member for Brisbane
Central) representing The Hon.
Shannon Fentiman Minister
for Communities, Women and
Youth, Minister for Child Safety
The annual celebration is also
the platform for the recognition
of Co.As.It. volunteers who have
volunteered for a period of five
years.
The success of the event is
attributed to the generous
contributions by valued
sponsors: Fil D’Arro from
Italiquore, Luigi Borgo from
Borgo Smallgoods, Alf and Diane
Sorbello from Heart of New
Farm Merthyr Village, Black
and White Home Services and
Co.As.It. staff who also donated
prizes.
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This year the Co.As.It.
Appreciation Medal and
Certificate was awarded
to Fiorella Glover who has
tirelessly given her time to both
clients and staff.
As guests were entertained
by interstate singer Alfredo
Malabello, a four-course
Co.As.It. is both proud and
grateful for their continued
support.
23
Gli studenti del St Columban’s
College a Caboolture hanno
fatto una gita a Brisbane il
mese scorso per partecipare
ad una giornata tutta italiana
organizzata dall’ILC (Italian
Language Centre).
Accompaganti dai loro
insegnanti d’italiano,
gli studenti hanno avuto
l’occasione di trovarsi immersi
in un contesto autentico con
l’opportunità di approfondire e
praticare l’italiano.
Dopo il benvenuto, era ora di
mettere il grembiule e seguire
la signora Emanuela Febo che ha
insegnato loro a fare gli gnocchi.
Con la spiegazione della ricetta
tutta in italiano, i ragazzi hanno
avuto modo di praticare la
lingua, esercitandosi ad usare
l’adeguato lessico.
Mentre la signora Febo bolliva
gli gnocchi per il pranzo, gli
studenti hanno praticato l’uso
dei numeri in italiano, giocando
a tombola.
I primi ad urlare “ambo”,
“terna”, “quaterna”, “cinquina”
e naturalmente “tombola”,
hanno avuto la fortuna di
vincere dei premi – anche
questi, tutti in tema con
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“l’italianità” della giornata. È
seguito poi un lavoro di gruppo
allegro, collegato alla canzone
“La zia di Forlì”. Ad ogni gruppo
è stata assegnata una strofa
della canzone da analizzare e
poi presentare cantando con gli
adeguati movimenti per farne
capire il significato.
Infine gli studenti hanno
partecipato ad una
presentazione sulle origini della
rinomata tarantella napoletana.
Poi, per far venire l’appetito,
tutto il gruppo ha imparato
i passi per finire col danzare
questo allegro ballo.
L’esperienza tutta italiana si è
conclusa con un pranzo a base
degli squisiti gnocchi fatti dagli
studenti seguito da un buon
gelato italiano per dolce.
It was with great pleasure that
the Italian Language Centre Co.As.It. was able to introduce
Dott.ssa Tamponi to three
schools in Brisbane when she
recently came for her first visit
to Queensland as a member
of the judging panel for the
StuditaliA Language Awards
traditionally held in October.
As the only Queensland
organisation currently funded
by the Ministero Affari Esteri to
promote and teach the Italian
Language, the Italian Language
Centre - Co.As.it. was able to
organise three school visits for
Dott.sa Tamponi - All Hallows
School, St. Joseph’s Primary
School and Northlakes State
College where currently a very
successful Italian immersion
program forms part of the
school’s curriculum.
Dott.ssa Tamponi was very
impressed with the level of
Italian used by students and the
teaching strategies used by the
staff.
The visits were greatly
enjoyed by the school staff
as well as Dott.ssa Tamponi.
Most importantly, the visits
highlighted the different
teaching methods used in
classrooms, the various
differences of education systems
between each State in Australia
and the appreciation for the
learning of another language
within the school community.
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La sera del 26 giugno 2015
gli studenti adulti dell’Italian
Language Centre (ILC) hanno
celebrato la fine del primo
semestre.
Dopo un semestre colmo di
attività per approfondire
l’apprendimento della lingua
italiana, gli studenti e i loro
insegnanti si sono riuniti
all’Abruzzo Club per partecipare
insieme ad una serata tutta
italiana.
Marzia Mauro, la coordinatrice
dei corsi d’italiano, ha dato
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il benvenuto a tutti prima di
passare la parola al presidente
del Co.As.It/ILC, il Cav. Nereo
Brezzi.
Il Cavaliere Brezzi si è
congratulato con gli studenti
presenti per la loro passione e
la loro tenacia nel partecipare
alle lezioni settimanali durante
l’intero semestre.
Ha continuato dicendo che
imparare una lingua straniera
porta sicuramente molto
beneficio.
La parola è poi passata alla
direttrice del Co.As.It./ILC,
la signora Dina Ranieri che ha
premiato alcuni studenti per
aver partecipato a tutte le
lezioni durante il semestre,
senza nessun’assenza.
La loro tenacia è stata premiata
con una bottiglia di Prosecco!
Gli abili studenti sono: Wendy
Fry, Nola McIntyre, Leon
Ciechanowski, Judy Ross, Peter
Roennfeldt, Kim Counsell,
Barbara Hodson, Evan Dellaway
e Gayle Bonaventura.
Durante la serata, i partecipanti
hanno avuto modo di servirsi
dal buffet con una scelta di
squisiti piatti quali gli gnocchi
al ragù, i tortellini in bianco
con pancetta, la porchetta
arrosto, il pollo alla cacciatora,
contorni vari, pizza margherita
e focaccia. Arrivati al dolce (un
buonissimo tiramisù) era ora di
partecipare a un ballo di gruppo
intitolato ‘Tacco e Punta’.
La serata è terminata con un
buon caffè e altri balli con la
musica italiana suonata dal disc
jockey presente.
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Subscription to
Education Perfect
for Languages
allowed all
ILC students to
access online
activities
throughout the
semester.
It is a well known fact that
language learners greatly
improve their fluency by
engaging in ongoing activities
to help them remember new
vocabulary and build their
confidence in communicating.
Teachers seek to motivate and
challenge their students to
extend themselves in language
acquisition not only inside
the classroom but in between
lessons as well.
At the Italian Language Centre
(ILC), feedback received at
the end of 2014 indicated that
teachers would welcome the
opportunity for adult students
to engage in additional
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activities to enhance and
consolidate what they learnt in
class.
When ILC Course Coordinator
Marzia Mauro was invited to
an Education Perfect workshop
early in 2015, she lost no time
in finding out more about this
innovative learning platform.
Education Perfect for Languages
(Language Perfect) is a popular
online language learning
resource used by thousands of
mainstream schools around the
world.
Marzia Mauro negotiated a
free trial period for access
to Language Perfect for all
students enrolled in ILC
Semester 1 Italian courses.
It has turned out to be the
answer to encouraging students
to ‘reach further and extend
themselves’ in their language
learning.
Subscription to Education
Perfect for Languages allowed
all ILC students to access
online activities throughout the
semester.
The Italian activities are
structured to help vocabulary
acquisition and retention as
well as improve writing, reading
and listening comprehension
skills.
days. Students were tested
on their language skills and
gained points by answering
questions.
ILC students successfully
obtained one silver and two
bronze certificates placing
them, respectively, in the
top 5% and 10% of 300,000
competitors from around the
world.
Co.As.It./ILC Director, Dina
Ranieri, presented the EP
certificates to Wendy Fry
(silver), Lesley Carey and
Timothy Merrett (bronze) on
the occasion of the ILC endof-semester dinner held on
26 June 2015 at the Abruzzo
Club.
Due to the success and
interest amongst the
students, ILC has now
included the optional online
activities as part of its Adult
Courses in Semester 2, 2015.
The best aspect is that students
can access the activities at any
time as confirmed by one ILC
student who enthused: “...being
an app on my iPad, I can do this
anywhere, anytime. One can
do a quick couple of minutes
or 2 hours, yes, 2 hours. I find
it very addictive!” Another
student said: “I’m finding the
repetition of words useful – it
eventually sinks in! I’m using it
on my iPad and iPhone.”
The highlight was the
opportunity for students to take
part in the Language Perfect
World Championship 2015.
Incorporating Education
Perfect online activities as
part of the Adult Classes
enrolment package has lifted
the profile of ILC, placing it
at the forefront of language
learning innovation.
Between 18-28 May, 1000
schools answered more than
190 million questions in just 10
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Come è noto, l’Italian Language
Centre è una divisione del
Co.As.It. Community Services e
da anni opera nel campo della
promozione ed insegnamento
della lingua e cultura italiana
offrendo ai docenti materiale,
consigli e aggiornamenti per
permettere loro di svolgere
al meglio la loro opera di
insegnamento.
Di recente, l’ILC ha avuto modo
di dimostrare il proprio ruolo
sulla Sunshine Coast durante
un seminario organizzato
dal Ministero della Pubblica
Istruzione del Queensland presso
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il Talara Primary College il 2
maggio scorso e aperto a tutti
i docenti di lingua e cultura
italiana operanti nella zona.
I partecipanti hanno avuto modo
di apprendere nuove tecniche e
strategie presentate da Marzia
Mauro e Rosella Dermedgoglou,
che insieme possono vantare
molti anni di insegnamento e
che, proprio grazie a questa
esperienza “sul campo”, sono
riuscite a mantenere sempre
viva l’attenzione dei presenti.
Nel corso del seminario si
sono affrontati temi quali “la
pronuncia perfetta”, “c’era
una volta (l’utilizzo di favole
per migliorare le conoscenze
linguistiche), “cantando si
impara (utilizzo di canzoni
indimenticabili per favorire
l’acquisizione di vocaboli) e
“assaggini” (attività varie per
riempire, nel caso, i momenti di
buco).
I commenti dei partecipanti
sono stati estremamente positivi
e l’ILC ha partecipato ad altri
seminari, questa volta a Cairns
(18 maggio) e a Townsville (19
maggio).
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