Welcome to the Autumn edition of Polyglot. The NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) is proud to share information about events and opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in 2022.

To increase the wellbeing of people affected by cancer, Pink Sari Inc’s initiative – Care for the Carer launched a series of online and in person creative workshops, proudly supported by Cancer Institute NSW and MHCS. In March 2022, South Asian cancer survivors, carers, family and friends gathered together with health professionals to engage in dance therapy, creative writing support services, and art therapy. Many thanks to both the participants and health workers for sharing their comprehensive knowledge and support.

MHCS is pleased to announce that the Multicultural Health Communication Awards 2022 are officially open for applications.

It would be appreciated if you can please share this announcement with your networks through newsletters, publications, websites and social media platforms.

The aim of the awards is to recognise excellence in multicultural health communication across NSW Health. The award categories are:

Multilingual Health Information Awards

• Keeping People Healthy
• Patient safety first
• Transforming Patient Experience
• Pandemic Response – COVID-19

Individual Awards

• Staff member of the Year
• Consumer / Community Representative of the Year

Winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony which will be held on Monday 21 November 2022.

Applications must be submitted online by COB Friday 10 June 2022. For more information on eligibility, criteria and how to submit an application, please visit our website.

For any enquiries, please contact MHCS Senior Project Officer Gaya Dharmagesan:
SESLHD-MHCSAwards@health.nsw.gov.au

Welcome to the Multicultural Youth COVID-19 Ambassadors

MHCS is delighted to welcome eleven dynamic Multicultural Youth COVID-19 Ambassadors to help us engage with young people across NSW. The aim of this initiative is to increase health literacy around COVID-19 amongst young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Research has shown that young people have been significantly socially and economically impacted by COVID-19. MHCS has identified an opportunity to support young people from CALD backgrounds through the co-design of a COVID-19 social media campaign.

This dynamic and diverse group of young people are excited to increase their knowledge and skills to have meaningful conversations with their peers, family and community networks around important COVID-19 information.

The Multicultural Youth COVID-19 Ambassadors Project is co-led by MHCS and the NSW Ministry of Health, and supported by Multicultural NSW and the NSW Department of Customer Service.

Look out for videos from these young ambassadors on our social media channels!

For further information, please contact MHCS Senior Project Officer, Gaya Dharmagesan: gayathri.dharmagesan@health.nsw.gov.au

Image from left: Hahano, Helen, Indira, Jocelyn, Lily, May, Natalie, Saeed, Simran, Vince and Nicola.

MHCS hosts the Online Translation Appointment Tool which was developed in partnership with NSW Refugee Health Service. This tool allows you to translate appointment details into your client's language. Immediate translations are now available in over 40 languages.

It is as simple as typing in the details of the appointment into the online form. The translated appointment is automatically created in a pdf document which you can either print and give to your client or directly email to them. In addition, clients can receive an automatic translated text message with their appointment details.

Multicultural Health Workers are encouraged to share their experiences to support CALD bereavement during COVID-19

Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney invite you to take part in a research study that explores the experiences and support needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations bereaved from any cause during the COVID-19 pandemic. The experience of CALD communities during the pandemic can be unique from other communities within Australia. Many people from CALD backgrounds have come from conflict in their country of origin and are experiencing distress about what is happening with the COVID-19 pandemic in their homeland, or have relatives overseas or in remote communities.

If you would like to share some of the experiences of your community and your experiences of working with them during COVID-19, participation involves a 30-minute interview or focus group. The researchers hope to use this information to help develop a national plan for bereavement support during the COVID-19 pandemic and any future pandemics.

For further information, please contact the project manager Dr. Serra Ivynian (Serra.Ivynian@uts.edu.au) or the project lead Professor Liz Lobb (Liz.Lobb@health.nsw.gov.au)

Understanding diversity services workers’ knowledge and skills gaps in servicing CALD queer communities in the context of COVID-19

On the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, Advance Diversity Services (ADS) and the University of Wollongong (UOW) have launched a research report, which features strategies to bridge gaps, diversity training and health services for CALD LGBTIQ+ communities in the context of COVID-19.

Multilingual COVID-19 Resources – NSW Health

The fortnightly Multicultural Health COVID-19 Communications Meeting hosted by NSW Ministry of Health and MHCS is an opportunity for local health districts and multicultural health services across NSW Health to share the development of the latest government health resources:

• New rules or household and close contacts in NSW factsheets available in 57 languages.
• COVID-19 booster vaccination recommended for people aged 16 years and older factsheets are available in 57 languages.
• Update on COVID Settings Videos (New Household and Close Contact Rules) are available in multiple languages.
• Emergency department information social media tiles are available in multiple languages.
• Pregnancy and vaccination – Mandarin video developed by Western Sydney Local Health District.
• Booster vaccination, winter flu and testing videos are available in multiple languages from South-Western Sydney Local Health District.

Australian Government Department of Health

 Translated resources to prepare for winter are available in over 60 languages:

• A COVID-19 vaccine winter dose increases protection - social media tiles
• Winter COVID-19 vaccine booster doses - poster
• Winter time and respiratory viruses - social media tiles
• You can get your COVID-19 and influenza vaccines at the same time - social media tiles
• How to do a nasal rapid antigen test - poster

Australia’s Growing Linguistic Diversity: An opportunity for a strategic approach

FECCA’s strategic language services policy, research and consultation highlights the importance of NAATI accredited translators in new and emerging languages spoken by humanitarian entrants over recent years in community and health sectors. Learn more here. 

Announcement of the Selection Criteria for the SBS Language Services Review

SBS has published their final Selection Criteria as part of a regular Language Services Review to determine which languages are to be serviced by SBS in 2022. The Review takes place every five years in parallel with the national Census, to ensure their services and health information distribution, continues to reach Australia’s growing diverse society.

Wellbeing support is available for Ukrainian and other impacted communities in NSW

To assist service providers in better understanding and meeting the mental health needs of Ukrainian and other communities in Australia impacted by conflicts around the world, the Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC) has developed an online resource kit for service providers. The kit includes links to research, bilingual mental health professionals, service providers, community organisations, and multilingual resources.

Visit the TMHC website for more information around wellbeing support available to communities impacted by global conflicts.

Multilingual Flu Vaccination Information

Influenza, or flu, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. By getting a flu shot, you’re protecting yourself and the community from serious illness. Vaccine information is available in multiple languages from NSW Health.

Hepatitis B testing encouraged for liver cancer prevention

Are you living with hepatitis B? Find Out. Get Tested campaign developed by Sydney Local Health’s District’s Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub encourages people from diverse communities to get tested for hepatitis B and look after their liver health. The state-wide campaign across multicultural newspapers, radio and social media aims to raise awareness of hepatitis B testing and treatment across the Arabic-speaking, Chinese-speaking, Korean, Sub-Saharan African, and Vietnamese communities living in NSW.

10 June 2022: Women and Leadership Australia are providing partial scholarships of $1,000 - $5,000 women at all levels of their careers to attend online career-building leadership courses. Apply here.

21 June 2022: NSW Culturally Responsive Care and Hepatitis B online webinar hosted by ASHM. This webinar funded by NSW Health will equip primary health practitioners and other healthcare workers with knowledge and strategies for providing culturally responsive chronic hepatitis B management and care to migrant and refugee patients. Register here.

19 - 25 June 2022: Refugee Week is a national annual celebration coordinated by Refugee Council Australia. The 2022 theme is Healing to raise awareness of issues affecting refugees including wellbeing and increasing interconnectedness in a society. Events hosted by a variety of community and health organisations including Settlement Services International can be found online. Register here.

28 June 2022: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Women with Disability Focus Group Series. Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA), Harmony Alliance – Migrant & Refugee Women for Change (Harmony Alliance), and National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) are conducting 3 focus groups for CALD women and non-binary people with disability living in Australia. These focus groups are aimed at improving access to disability services. Register here.

30 June 2022: STARTTS NSW are running a series of workshops for NSW Health workers to develop cultural safety skills when working with people from refugee and humanitarian entrant backgrounds. The Working with Interpreters workshop will be presented by Nooria Mehraby, Senior Clinician/Clinical Trainer, STARTTS NSW. Register here.

NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service
Level 3, 349 Crown St. Surry Hills NSW 2010
Website: http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/
Email: SESLHD-MHCSNEWS@health.nsw.gov.au

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