ITALO-AUSTRALIAN AGED CARE

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (16:19): In the past, I have had the opportunity a number of times to place on record my appreciation of those who work in the Italo-Australian aged care sector: those who strive to offer not just aged care of the highest quality to all those for whom they care but also the challenge to provide culturally appropriate aged care services.

Several weeks ago, along with other colleagues, I was invited to attend the Italian Benevolent Foundation's inaugural gala dinner held in their new function centre at the Italian Village, St Agnes. The IBF has been well established in the north-eastern suburbs for over 30 years. The foundation currently has three residential and community service sites providing a range of high and low level hostel and nursing home accommodation and various levels of in-home care programs across the metropolitan area. The accommodation sites are the Italian Village at St Agnes, Domus Operosa in Burton and Campbelltown Nursing Home.

Apart from celebrating the newly completed function centre at the Italian Village, the evening was used as an opportunity to honour the pioneers of the IBF, and none were more deserving than Dr Carmine De Pasquale. Dr De Pasquale was the third chairman of the foundation between the years of 1978 and 2010. I quote IBF's CEO, Mr Daniel Desteno, when talking about Dr De Pasquale:

Carmine is not only a well-respected psychiatrist, but the recipient of an Order of Australia Medal, author, philanthropist and recently awarded Grande Ufficiale Ordine della Stella della Solidarieta Italiana by the Italian Government.

The Acting Consul of Italy in South Australia, Dr Orietta Borgia, has spoken in a number of public locations in the last few months in appreciation of Dr De Pasquale's absolute commitment and service to the welfare of the aged in South Australia. It was fitting that the order was conferred upon Dr De Pasquale in May at the Italian Village in St Agnes. I add my personal thanks and congratulations—and that of all members of the South Australian parliament, I am certain—to Dr De Pasquale.

Mr Desteno went on to tell those gathered on the evening that, under the period of Dr De Pasquale's stewardship, the growth of the IBF had gone 'from small beginnings (40 places with a grant of just over $484,000) to a service with around 400 places (assets totalling about $46 million and an annual turnover of $22 million).' The generosity and philanthropy of those who provided money from their own pockets to build up a deposit for bank financial approval to enable the purchase of the first piece of land is something that I suspect we do not see a great deal of today.

So many other pioneers were rightly acknowledged on the evening, too many to name in the time permitting for this contribution, other than indulging myself with one name—the first vice president and subsequent second president, Pasquale Tiberio Pirone, who then went on to become South Australia's first Italian-born judge. I know he was a respected friend of my father, being born in the same village in Italy as I was. It was pleasing to see his wife among the guests on the evening.

The IBF now also has a training facility, the IBF Healthcare College of South Australia. It provides dedicated training in the community and in the aged care industry, with a strong focus on skills and knowledge through real-life work experiences. Vice chair of the foundation for many years, solicitor Marie Alvino, took on the mantle of chair late last year, and I congratulate her also on her appointment.

I understand that, in the last 11 years, the organisation has grown from 168 to 277 resident beds, with a further 44 beds to be built as part of the stage 2 redevelopment at St Agnes, bringing the total to 321. There has also been a similar expansion in the level of in-home care provision. I know that Ms Alvino, as chair, will continue the leadership provided by Dr De Pasquale and that she is well assisted by a professional team headed by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Daniel Desteno.