Inclusion at work!

They’re walking and talking the talk when it comes to inclusion at Uniting AgeWell Sorell Community Ningana in Tasmania’s south.

With around half the staff now from international backgrounds – mostly Nepalese and some from India and other backgrounds – Residential Services Manager Melitta Baker is learning to speak Nepali. And other staff members and even residents, are happily climbing on the bandwagon and enjoying learning the new language too.

Extended Care Assistant Puru Ghimire who is from Nepal offered to teach Melitta, who was delighted to learn a new language. He is enjoying demonstrating the nuances of Nepali, and is thrilled at the progress she is making.

“The Nepalese community is the fastest growing migrant community in Australia, and Nepali is the second most widely spoken language in Tasmania,” says Melitta, “so I am delighted that I am able to speak it a little, as well as understand a few phrases and read a few basic sentences.”

“It’s certainly given me a renewed appreciation of how difficult it is for adults to learn a second language – and also for migrants to be able to understand Aussie English with its fast pace and everyday slang.”

The staff at Ningana are keen for Melitta to learn other languages too once she has mastered Nepali!

Everyone is enjoying the two-way effort, and Melitta has been including a few Nepali phrases in the newsletter that she sends out to residents’ families.

Melitta has been at Ningana for nine years and with Uniting AgeWell for over 20 years, and is proud to belong to an organisation that champions diversity and inclusion.