National Reconciliation Week
This week across Australia is National Reconciliation Week. At the heart of it is the relationship between all Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Fostering positive race relations, our relationships have to be grounded in a foundation of truth.
The NRW2019 campaign says:
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long called for a comprehensive process of truth-telling about Australia’s colonial history. Our nation’s past is reflected in the present, and will continue to play out in future unless we heal historical wounds.
Today, 80 per cent of Australians believe it is important to undertake formal truth telling processes, according to the 2018 Australian Reconciliation Barometer. Australians are ready to come to terms with our history as a crucial step towards a unified future, in which we understand, value and respect each other.
Whether you’re engaging in challenging conversations or unlearning and relearning what you know, this journey requires all of us to walk together with courage. This National Reconciliation Week, we invite Australians from all backgrounds to contribute to our national movement towards a unified future.”
National Reconciliation Week
Apex Professionals Exchange was established to provide a professional opportunity for young social care workers while also helping families find specialized childcare and therapy assistance. But these women and men are coming from Europe, where the education and job titles are a bit different then in Australia. So how can you tell which professional skills you need for your family? Let’s start with one of the most versatile and frequent job titles in our program!
What is a Special Needs Care Provider?
Even though our Australian Apex staff cannot even come close to pronouncing the word “Heilerziehungspfleger”, we translate it as ‘Special Needs Care Provider’. It’s one of our favorite German occupations for our host families who have children with special needs!
A Heilerziehungspfleger or “HEP” for short, is a Special Needs Care provider who has completed a three-year advanced degree in assisting, caring, educating and helping children and adults with special care requirements and daily living. In addition to working with people with special needs in a social and emotional capacity, they are also trained to provide personal and hygiene assistance including toileting, bathing, lifting, feeding (including feeding tubes) and other daily support needs. They make wonderful professional care professionals for children who have special physical care needs.
