 |
|
|
NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
[Click on the question and you are directed to the answer.]
Demographic Statistics
Health Statistics
Services and Multicultural Organisations
Translations
Language Services
Communications and Marketing Campaigns
Multicultural Health Communication Website Information
Cultural Competence in the health sector
Frequently Given Answers
Demographic Statistics
How many people speak a language other than English at home?
1,197,071 people or 18.9% of the NSW population speak a language other than English at home. There were 1,092,219 people who spoke a language other than English in the 1996 Census. It represents an additional 104,852 or 9.6% increase in population that speak a language other than English at home. (ABS Census 2001)
Which Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) groups have the lowest English language proficiency (ELP) in NSW?
The five highest ranking Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) population groups in NSW with low ELP (in order of priority and weighted by size of population and % with Low ELP) is: Vietnamese, Khmer, Korean, Chinese, and Lao. (2001 ABS Census data)
What are the top 10 most common languages other than English spoken in NSW?
The top 10 languages other than English spoken in NSW are: Arabic, Chinese, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog (Filipino), Macedonian, Korean and Hindi. (ABS Census 2001)
What percentage of people in NSW was born overseas?
The percentage of people born overseas from non-English speaking countries was
1,020,507 or 16.1% of the NSW population (ABS Census 2001)
What percentage of people in NSW has low English proficiency?
There are 3.56% of the NSW population that speak English not well or not all
(ABS Census 2001)
Which are the largest multicultural communities in NSW?
The five highest ranking CALD population groups in NSW by language spoken at home are: Arabic, Cantonese, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese speaking communities (in order of priority) (2001 ABS Census data)
The top five countries of birth in NSW (non-English speaking country) are: China, Vietnam, Italy, Lebanon and the Philippines (2001 ABS Census data)
Which CALD communities have settled in NSW recently?
In 2003-04, the total number of settlers was 40,561. The top ten source countries of new settler arrivals for New South Wales (in order of size) were: the PRC (12.4 per cent), the United Kingdom (11.1 per cent), New Zealand (10.1 per cent), India (9.0 per cent) the Philippines (4.5 per cent). South Africa, Sudan, Indonesia, Iraq and Lebanon. This compares closely with the top source countries for Australia: the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the PRC, India and South Africa.
(Population Flows: Immigration Aspects 2003-04 Edition, DIMIA)
Resident populations born in South Africa, India, China, Korea, New Zealand, and Fiji all grew by 20% or more between 1996 and 2001, as did populations speaking Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Chinese, Serbian and Vietnamese languages at home. (Report of the NSW Chief Health Officer 2004)
The distribution of females and males across most source countries was fairly evenly balanced. Some exceptions included Thailand (77.8 per cent female), Japan (67.2 per cent female) and Vietnam (64.9 per cent female).
(Population Flows: Immigration Aspects 2003-04 Edition, DIMIA)
Where can I find more background information about specific CALD communities?
The DIMIA website provides community information summaries.
See: http://www.immi.gov.au/
The Community Relations Commission (CRC) provides Census statistics according to CALD community. See the section 'People of NSW' at: http://www.crc.nsw.gov.au/statistics/index.htm
What is a 'Small and Emerging Community'?
It has been found to be more useful to look at the characteristics of small and emerging communities rather than attempt to define them. By describing small and emerging communities service providers are better able to think broadly about these communities whereas defining them inevitably leads to exclusion, that is a community either fits or does not fit a particular definition. (Echevarria, April 2002)
The following are some general characteristics of small and emerging communities with most communities having some, but not all of these characteristics:
- Communities are small in number (ranging from approximately 100 - or even less - up to approximately 8,000);
- Members of these communities are geographically dispersed throughout Sydney and are often highly mobile;
- Community members are generally newly arrived (within the last five to ten years) and often have arrived under the Refugee and Humanitarian Program;
- Members have little or no familiarity with Australian welfare systems or services;
- There is a lack of sustainable community structures, or the community is in the early stages of developing such structures - which is often due to the proportion of new arrivals who are at a 'survival level' creating difficulties in being involved in community development activities;
- The composition of the community is dispersed (religious, political, ethnic, educational level) which appears more evident due to the size of the community than within larger communities (which may be equally diverse);
- Community members lack extended family members (and therefore support) and community elders/religious leaders;
- The focus of the organisations may be cultural, religious or political with a lower priority on settlement and welfare issues, particularly in the early stages of the communities settlement;
- Communities may have a culture distant from basic Anglo-Australian norms
(Anglicare, Working with small and emerging communities, July 2004)
What are the small and emerging communities in NSW (languages of limited diffusion) in NSW?
Based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics 1996 Census, people from the following countries make up small and emerging communities in Australia:
Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Colombia, Cook Islands, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Sudan (HREOC, 1999)
Health Statistics
What is the health status of people from CALD communities in NSW?
Overseas-born people generally have good health. This reflects the 'healthy migrant effect', whereby people in good health are more likely to meet eligibility criteria, and to be willing and economically able to migrate. However, certain diseases and health risk factors are more prevalent among some country-of-birth groups. This reflects diverse social, economic, environmental, cultural, and genetic influences.
Compared with the Australian-born, people born in some overseas countries:
- Are more likely to have premature babies (mothers born in Fiji);
- Are less likely to have their first antenatal visit before 20 weeks gestation (mothers born in Lebanon, Korea, Fiji, New Zealand, Indonesia, and the Philippines);
- Have high rates of hospitalisation for diabetes or its complications (males and females born in Lebanon, Fiji, Italy, India, and Greece; females born in the Philippines; males born in South Africa);
- Have high rates of hospitalisation for coronary heart disease (Lebanon, Fiji, and India) and cardiac revascularisation procedures (Lebanon, Fiji, India, and Greece);
- Have high rates of lung cancer (males and females born in the United Kingdom; females born in New Zealand);
- Have high rates of tuberculosis (Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Fiji, Malaysia, and the Former Yugoslavia)
(Report of the NSW Chief Health Officer 2004)
Services and Multicultural Organisations
What health services are available for culturally diverse communities in NSW?
See the resource 'Multicultural Health Services and Programs in NSW' at: http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/mhcs/resources.html#directories
For more information please contact us on: 02 9816 0347
What are the peak organisations in NSW for multicultural communities?
See the section 'Communities' on the Community Relations Commission website at:
http://www.crc.nsw.gov.au/communities/index.htm
Is there a directory of multicultural health services?
Yes. Access our resource 'Multicultural Health Services and Programs in NSW' at: http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/mhcs/resources.html#directories
Is there a directory of doctors that speak another language?
Yes. See our Directories at the following links:
http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/mhcs/resources.html#directories
(Internet only)
Where can I get information on issues to do with immigration and visas?
Contact the Department of Immigration and Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs:
http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/settle-in-australia/index.htm
For information in languages other than English: http://www.immi.gov.au/search_for/multilingual.htm
Where can I get information about Medicare eligibility?
Go to: www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
If you want to contact Medicare by telephone and need help with interpreting call their Translating/Interpreting Service on 131 450
Where can I get information about government financial assistance and help finding work?
Visit the Centrelink website on: http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/languages/index.htm
Translations
Where can I go to have resources translated?
Please contact our Translations Business Manager for more information:
02 9816 0306
Is there a guide to help me with translations?
Yes. Multicultural Communication has developed Translation Guidelines.
See: http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/mhcs/resources.html#guidelines_2
Where can I find translated free information?
For translated health information by subject category browse our site at:
http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au
Where can I find links to other websites containing translated information?
See our range of links at: http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/mhcs/links.html
Note: For general links containing resources in a wide variety of topics and languages see the category Miscellaneous Links
What makes a good translation?
See our translation guidelines at:
http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/mhcs/resources.html#guidelines_2
Language Services
Where can I find an Interpreter in NSW?
If you are accessing a NSW Health service there are health care interpreter services available in the Area Health services. There contact numbers are available in the following publication:
http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/mhcs/resources.html#directories
Alternatively you may contact the Translating & Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450 or email tispromo@immi.gov.au
The Australian Government, through the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, provides a Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) for people who do not speak English and for English speakers needing to communicate with them.
TIS is Australia's only national service, and is available to any person or organisation in Australia requiring interpreting services.
TIS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is accessible from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call.
Can I ask for an Interpreter in hospital?
Yes, according to the 'NSW Health Circular Standard Procedures for the Use of Health Care Interpreters' (94/10) all clients of non-English speaking background should be informed about the Health Care Interpreter Service (HCIS) and their ability to access a professional health care interpreter.
What language services are frequently used in health care settings?
The top 10 language services requested by NSW Health Care Interpreter Services for 2004 were: Chinese, Arabic, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Vietnamese, Serbian, Croatian, Macedonian and Polish. (Languages for Pamphlet for Clients / Patients)
Communications and Marketing Campaigns
Are there services in NSW that offer help in developing campaigns /strategies to target culturally diverse communities?
Yes. Contact our Manager Communication and Social Marketing:
Michael Camit
Michael.Camit@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
02 9816 0305
Where can I find information about how my service can improve communication (all services) to CALD communities?
The Victorian Government has developed a checklist guide for government agencies when formulating communication strategies aimed at specific categories of CALD Victorians. The guide is developed based on research amongst CALD communities in Victoria therefore caution is needed if applying it to other states.
See: http://www.information.vic.gov.au/resources/cald_report.htm
Where can I find information about how I can improve my health communication to CALD communities?
See the Postgraduate Medical Council of NSW at:
http://www.diversityinhealth.com/regions/index.htm
Multicultural Health Communication Website Information
Can I reproduce resources/publications on the website?
Permission is required in order to reproduce any resources/publications on the website. Please contact the service for further information: mhcs@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Cultural Competence in the health sector
What are the key components of a culturally competent health service?
The following cultural competence frameworks may be of help:
NSW Health
Postgraduate Medical Council of NSW - Cultural Diversity in Health
Website: http://www.diversityinhealth.com/welcome/index.htm
Queensland Health
'Queensland Health Multicultural Policy Statement'
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/pdf/multicul.pdf
'Providing Care to Patients from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds: Guidelines to Practice" (Cultural Diversity Guide)
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/guidelines/default.asp
Victoria Health
Multicultural Health Strategy
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/multicultural/
Cultural Diversity Guide
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/multicultural/
South Australia Health
http://www.health.sa.gov.au/
"Why didn't you tell us?" "Because you didn't ask!" Consulting with culturally and linguistically diverse communities - A guide for south Australian government agencies (PDF available)
How can workers/agencies check whether they are culturally competent?
The Multicultural Disability Association of Australia (MDAA) provides a useful checklist available at the following links:
http://www.mdaa.org.au/publications/faqs/workers-mdaa.doc (Workers)
http://www.mdaa.org.au/publications/faqs/agencies-mdaa.doc (Agencies)
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
