PRESS RELEASE

Philippine Embassy, Canberra

1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
www.philembassy.org.au    *Tel. No. 02-6273-2535*

14 October 2026, CANBERRA – The Philippine Embassy welcomed representatives of Australian-Filipino Community Services (AFCS), a Victoria-based non-profit organization, for a discussion on programs and initiatives supporting the Filipino community in Australia.

The delegation included AFCS CEO Corina Dutlow, Community Social Worker and Respite Team Leader/Coordinator Jamie Lalwet, Board Member Jennelyn Eliseo, and Community Worker Erick Delos Reyes. They highlighted AFCS’s work in culturally responsive aged care, dementia support, youth engagement, and community services for Filipinos in Australia.

Among the programs presented was “Maharlika Lodge™: Australia’s First Filipino Dementia Respite Home,” an initiative providing culturally appropriate dementia respite care for Filipino families. Its development has been informed by dementia awareness initiatives, engagement with dementia and Alzheimer’s organizations in the Philippines, and efforts to strengthen the capacity of care staff through specialist knowledge, culturally appropriate screening tools, and resources in the Filipino language.

AFCS also shared its youth engagement initiatives to support Filipino-Australian youth and strengthen their connection to their heritage. Initially engaging young people through performing arts, AFCS has since expanded its approach to include language and cultural learning, career development, and opportunities for meaningful engagement with the Filipino diaspora.

A key highlight is the cultural immersion program organized in partnership with the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, which brings young Filipino Australians closer to their heritage through language workshops, museum visits, and cultural activities. The initiative seeks to make heritage education more accessible to young people and establish the program as a sustainable annual initiative with nationwide reach. The partnership also reflects a significant investment in supporting Filipino youth in their career development and cultural identity.

The delegation also shared three films showcasing AFCS’s work and experiences of the Filipino community: I Am Filipino Enough, Meaningful Memories at Maharlika Lodge, and Carers’ Reflections.

Established in the 1990s, AFCS is a charitable, non-profit organization that initially focused on addressing domestic violence and assisting newly arrived migrants. Built on a strong foundation of voluntary community service, the organization has since expanded its programs to respond to the evolving needs of Filipino Australians. Its work in Victoria has also informed initiatives in New South Wales to contribute to its culturally specific aged care and community services.

The AFCS also highlighted its participation in the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA) 2026 National Conference in Canberra, which brought together community leaders and delegates from across Australia to celebrate cultural diversity and discuss the future of multiculturalism. Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, was announced as the new Patron of FECCA. - END