Multicultural Health

CESPHN is committed to improving health and wellbeing outcomes and experiences for multicultural communities across the CESPHN region.

Cultural background data is not consistently captured in health care. However, it is well established that culture and language impact health and wellbeing through their profound influence on individuals’ healthcare-seeking behaviours, notion of health and the healthcare system.

Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are well placed to increase access and improve the effectiveness of health services and quality of health care for people from multicultural backgrounds. 

The terms ‘multicultural’ and ‘culturally and linguistically diverse’ (CALD) are used interchangeably in our work and refer to populations not from the Anglo-Celtic majority of the Australian population or Australian First Nations peoples. The term ‘multicultural’ is generally the preferred term by communities and will be used when discussing communities and needs. ‘CALD’ will be used when discussing data and data collection.  

We recognise that there is great diversity among people from multicultural backgrounds in Australia, including diverse cultures, faiths, languages, migration journeys and experiences. 

Multicultural Resources

Please see the following websites regarding multicultural resources and supports.

PHN Multicultural Health Framework

The PHN Multicultural Health Framework aims to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and experiences for multicultural communities across all PHN regions. It provides high-level guidance and best practice actions to support PHNs to deliver locally informed and relevant responses in partnerships with other stakeholders.

The Framework was developed by representatives from approximately 20 PHNS including members of the PHN Multicultural Health Framework Working Group and the National PHN Cultural Diversity Community of Practice.

Development involved a review of existing frameworks and guidelines including those already developed by PHNs and key sector leaders including Mental Health Australia (the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia), Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, and the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health.

The Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia and the PHN Multicultural Health Framework are complementary resources that work together with the former providing a tool for operationalizing continuous improvements in culturally responsive mental health service delivery for PHNs and their commissioned mental health services.

You can read the entire PHN Multicultural Health Framework here.

TIS Services

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) is an interpreting service provided by the Department of Home Affairs for people with limited English proficiency and for agencies and businesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients.

TIS National provides access to interpreters over the phone, via video conference or to attend an appointment in person.

TIS National’s immediate phone interpreting service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Access the TIS immediate phone interpreting service by calling 131 450.

TIS National provides free interpreting services to eligible groups. For more information, please visit the TIS Free Interpreting Service website.

Allied Health Professionals

CESPHN funds access to interpreting services for allied health providers working in the region. To request access please see Access to Interpreting Service for Allied Health Professionals.

Additional Links:

Multicultural Health Navigator Service

Multicultural Health Navigator Service to launch in coming months

We are pleased to announce that CESPHN has provided funding to Advance Diversity Services Limited to deliver a new Multicultural Health Navigator service, which aims to empower community members to connect with others and navigate and access health services and social support.
The service will cover the areas of Canterbury, Strathfield-Burwood-Ashfield, and Rockdale-Kogarah and Hurstville, and will be available to residents in these areas who have limited or no English proficiency and who speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Korean or Nepali.

A team of part-time bi-lingual navigators will provide one-on-one, in-language support to link clients into services to meet their needs. This could include, services addressing physical and mental health, financial counselling, housing, employment, gambling harm and loneliness

Advance Diversity Services is currently establishing the new service with the aim of service commencement within the next few months.

People in the client group can reach out themselves to talk to someone in their language and don’t need a referral but the service will also accept referrals from GPs and other health professionals and community-based services.

This is a free service and a Medicare card is not required to access the service.