CASS Care

24/08/2026

CASS Residential Aged Care Facility in Campsie has once again achieved the highest Overall Star Rating in the latest residential aged care assessment released by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing in August.

The achievement follows five-star ratings in 2024 and 2025, reaffirming the facility’s ongoing commitment to excellence in aged care.

Residents’ Experience carries the greatest weighting in the assessment, accounting for 33% of the Overall Star Rating. Conducted by independent organisations engaged by the Government, the survey includes feedback from at least 20% of residents.

“This sub-category directly reflects residents’ day-to-day experiences and satisfaction with the care and services they receive. It is one of the aspects most valued by residents and their families,” explained Ms Kit Chung, General Manager of Aged Care Services.
Behind every five-star rating, the most important measure of success is the lived experience of residents themselves."

“We are committed to person-centred care, ensuring residents are treated with dignity and respect while maintaining choice and independence in their daily lives. While achieving a five-star rating is certainly cause for celebration, what matters most to residents and their families is whether residents feel safe, respected and empowered to make informed choices about their own lives,” said Ms Chung.

For more than a decade, CASS Residential Aged Care Facility has earned a strong reputation for delivering high-quality aged care services. This latest achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to providing culturally responsive care that supports the wellbeing of older Australians and strengthens multicultural communities.

24/08/2026

📸 Building a fulfilling career through our Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) courses.

CASS has partnered with Breakthru College, a Registered Training Organisation ( #91512), to deliver Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) (CHC33021).

Through a combination of engaging classroom learning and practical training, participants are developing skills for roles such as Support Worker, Community Services Worker, and Individual Support Worker in the disability, aged care, or community care sectors.

With our first program of the year wrapping up in August, we’re pleased to open enrolments for our upcoming courses in Bankstown and Hornsby. The 6-month courses will be delivered in English. Course fees vary depending on your eligibility for the NSW “Smart and Skilled” funding.

📖Bankstown
Commence on 21 Sep 26 | Every Monday and Thursday, from 9am to 3pm 📍Breakthru College (Level 8, Suite 8.01, 66/72 Rickard Road, Bankstown, NSW 2200)
📖Hornsby
Commence on 22 Sep 26 | Every Tuesday and Friday, from 9am to 3pm 📍Breakthru College (Level 3, Suite3.05, 20 George Street, Hornsby, NSW 2077)

👇Find the registration link in the comments. Visit our website for information in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indonesian.

24/08/2026

21/08/2026

🏛️ A memorable day at NSW Parliament House for our activity group members living in the Georges River Council area.

Around 40 members from our St George Activity Group and Hua Kang Seniors Groups (Thursday and Friday) enjoyed a special visit to NSW Parliament House at the invitation of the Premier, the Hon Chris Minns MP.

A huge thank you to Ms Jessica Wei from the Premier’s office for serving as our guide and interpreter throughout the day.

It was fantastic touring both chambers, learning how Parliament operates, and exploring the building’s history. 📸 We were also grateful for the opportunity to view the commemorative hourglass gifted by King Charles III for the Legislative Council's 200th anniversary before wrapping up the day with great company and lunch at the Parliament House Café.

Seeing their enthusiasm throughout the visit was rewarding, with many asking questions, sharing conversations and capturing memorable moments along the way.

CASS was pleased to facilitate this educational experience, giving our multicultural seniors the opportunity to learn more about Australia’s democratic system and participate confidently in civic life. 👏

21/08/2026

Henry’s Story #10: Acquiring Campsie Child Care Centre

In early 1984, our Society received a piece of good news, “A private kindergarten in Campsie was for sale. The Government was worried that developers might buy the property leading to a loss of child care places, and so the Government was willing to provide funding for the Society to buy the place.”

The Board of our Society was ambivalent after receiving the news. The original plan of our Society was to operate a child care centre in Sydney Chinatown area, not in Campsie. However, after considering that it would be a good opportunity to learn how to operate a child care centre and accumulate experience, the Board resolved to accept the challenge.

Facilitated by the Federal Department, the Society met with the owner of “Campsie Kindergarten’ in early September 1984 to negotiate about the purchase of the place.

The private kindergarten was located at 44 Sixth Avenue, Campsie. Both sides quickly agreed on the purchase price of Aus$250,000.
During the negotiations, it was discovered that the vendor also owned the property next door at 48 Sixth Avenue. It was a dilapidated warehouse and priced at A$40,000. The vendor would only sell the kindergarten if the Society would buy together with the warehouse.

There was a serious problem: the Government would only provide the Society with funding to purchase the kindergarten and would not provide funding for any property unrelated to the child care service.

This posed a headache for the Society: If the Society did not have A$40,000 to purchase the No. 48 property, the Government’s funding of A$250,000 would be lost. Where could our Society find A$40,000?

Our Society did not have any financial resources at that time. Neither did it run any projects or service that would generate income. When our Society approached banks or financial institutions for loans, all applications were knocked back. The responses were the same: How could you manage to repay the loans?

The Board deliberated the issue many times and finally came up with a solution in early November 1984. It was suggested settling the purchase of the No. 44 kindergarten property first and requested the vendor to give our Society one year’s time to settle the property at No. 48 giving our Society time to organize fundraising activities. Some members agreed to put up their personal property as financial guarantees. The vendor accepted the plan.

Funding was received from the Federal Government, and the purchase of the kindergarten property was settled at the end of 1984. An agreement was signed with the vendor to settle the property at No. 48 a year later. This agreement was made possible by the financial guarantee provided by Dr. Leng Tan, Dr. Tony Goh, Dr. Cecilia Fong and Mr. Henry Pan using their personal properties.
Everyone was happy and celebrated the purchase of the kindergarten which was renamed as Campsie Child Care Centre. Work also commenced to recruit staff members.

No one expected it to be a hot potato!

Relevant government departments began to come knocking on the door and said that the kindergarten did not meet regulations and rectification works were needed before it could operate. After contacting the trades people, the works were estimated to cost at least Aus$30,000.

When parents heard that the Child Care Centre was owned by Chinese, many withdrew their children from the Centre. Only half of the originally enrolled children stayed.

🤔Revenue was drastically reduced while there was extra cost for the renovation works. How would the inexperienced Society handle the situation? Stay tuned for the next episode!

CASS Care will take you on a journey through Henry’s story every week, sharing his rich experiences with CASS and the he has gathered along the way.

20/08/2026

Celebrating 30 years, community leaders and members came together to recognise the remarkable journey of CASS.

CASS Hua Kang Seniors Group marked its 30th anniversary with a celebratory luncheon on 14 August, bringing together members, volunteers, community leaders and dignitaries to recognise three decades of supporting older people in the community.

The Hon. Chris Minns MP, Premier of NSW, sent a special video message congratulating the group on its 30th anniversary, with the Hon. Steve Kamper MP, Minister for Multiculturalism and State Member for Rockdale, attending on his behalf and delivering a speech.

Guests also heard from Mr Mark Coure MP, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and State Member for Oatley, who attended on behalf of NSW Opposition Leader Ms Kellie Sloane MP, and from Mr Zhi Soon MP, Federal Member for Banks. Thank you to Councillor Nancy Liu JP - Georges River Council for making early visits to present a beautiful birthday cake and gifts to our seniors.

CASS Vice Chairperson Mr Ivan Wong reflected on the group's journey from a small weekly gathering established 30 years ago to a vibrant community of almost 200 senior members participating in regular social, recreational and cultural activities.

A special tribute was paid to the group's dedicated volunteers, whose commitment has been instrumental to its success over the years. Particular recognition was given to long-serving group leaders, Mrs Teresa Chu and Mrs Yuki Jian, for their outstanding service and leadership.

The celebration featured commemorative photos, a 30th anniversary cake-cutting ceremony, cultural performances and lucky draw prizes. One of the event's highlights was a rendition of the classic song Friends, performed by CASS Chairperson Prof Stephen Li AM together with group members, earning enthusiastic applause from attendees.

Closing the event, activity group leaders expressed confidence in the group's future and its ongoing commitment to bringing multicultural seniors together, supporting wellbeing and strengthening community connections for years to come.

20/08/2026

"Some people feel that success and fame can be like alcohol, entering one's head to destroy one's senses. We can say, 'Success has gone to one's head.' In other words, people thus affected can no longer think straight because they are intoxicated by success. Thus, it is also said that a person with an inflated ego has a 'swollen head.'"

- An excerpt from English Idioms (Part 28): "Dragon Gate Dropout." This story was first published in 2000. Read the full article in the images.

Drawing on decades of living and working in Australia, Mr Francis Lee OAM, a member of our Council of Elders, uses a clear and engaging language style to explain English idioms, combining fun language learning with cultural insight.

These stories, aimed at bringing audiences a little laughter or a shared sigh, were aired on a SBS National Radio and later compiled into a book called “English Idioms”.

CASS will share selected chapters from the book with you over time and explore the wisdom and fun of language together.

19/08/2026

Our activity group members enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at one of our Residential Aged Care Facilities 🌟

On 7 August 2026, members of the CASS Indonesian Senior English Activity Group enjoyed a fascinating visit to the CASS Residential Aged Care Facility in Asquith, exploring the independent living units designed for people aged 55+ and learning more about the aged care services and support available on site.

One of the highlights of the day was sampling the meals prepared for residents. The food received glowing reviews, with many participants pleasantly surprised by how delicious and home-style the meals were.

The tour was both enjoyable and informative, allowing recipients of our social support services to experience life at the residence firsthand, meet staff, and better understand the support available as they age.

It highlighted our integrated approach to ageing well, demonstrating how we support older Australians with the right services, at the right time, in environments where they can thrive with dignity and independence.❤️

19/08/2026

At Nearly 80, Ms He Leads a Thriving Tai Chi Group and Earns Volunteer Recognition👍

Congratulations to Ms Guangchun He, who was recognised as a nominee at the 2026 NSW North Shore Senior Volunteer of the Year for her contribution to the community.

A valued volunteer with the CASS Chatswood Activity Group since its early days, Ms He has spent years sharing her passion for Tai Chi, helping older people stay active, connected and healthy. Under her leadership, the Tai Chi team has grown from just a handful of participants to more than 60 members, with an average age of 75.

She said the nomination is a recognition of not only her contribution, but also the support of CASS and the dedication of her fellow activity group members.

“I’m approaching 80, yet our members still come together every Wednesday for four hours and keep up around two hours of exercise each day, rain or shine. Over the years, we’ve progressed from learning the basics of Tai Chi to mastering more advanced forms.

Tai Chi has given me confidence, pride and a sense of purpose. More importantly, it has shown me that older people are not just recipients of support. We can also stay healthy, contribute to our community and make a positive difference in the lives of others.”

👏 Thank you for your dedication and inspiration. A well-deserved recognition!

19/08/2026

🏠💰 When financial pressures affect family life, what happens next?

Join our upcoming Free Mandarin seminar “Family Breakdown & Debt”, where a family lawyer will break down the legal issues and help you better understand how family law applies in real-life situations.
💬Language: Mandarin
📍 Location: Campsie Library and Knowledge Cantre (14-28 Amy St, Campsie NSW 2194)
📅 Date and time: Fri 28 Aug, 10:00am – 12:00pm
🎤 Guest Speaker: Laura Wang (Solicitor, The Supreme Court of NSW; Partner at Aureate Legal)

Scan the QR code to register.