The Multicultural Aged Resource Service (MARS) is a community development project. It aims to resource active elderly people of a non- English speaking background but also looks at the needs of frail aged people in the community.

MARS objectives are to:

• Promote and support existing groups toward self determination.
• Gather information on services and make it available to the target group.
• Disseminate information among seniors, taking into account language, culture and literacy factors.
• Publish the newsletter, Seniors Today three times a year for interested groups, clients and service providers.

MARS Services include:

(1) Provide information, education, social and recreational activities which take into consideration the multicultural makeup of the elderly population.

(2) Identify skills and resources among the aged and channel these into self-help initiatives and wider community activities where they are desirable and appropriate.

(3) Lobby on behalf of the client group to government departments and other agencies, when necessary and appropriate.

(4) Liase and develop networks with relevant organisations to pool resources for the provision of activities and services.

(5) This project works closely with the Aged and Disability Project at Fairfield City Council. These two projects co-convene the Fairfield District Seniors Network.

The MARS project worker is Zafirah. Contact her on:

• Phone: (02) 9727 0477
• Email: mars@cabracc.org.au