Welcome to the Winter edition of Polyglot for 2025. The NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) is excited to share information, events, and other opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

We are delighted to announce that Multicultural Health Week 2025 (1-7 September) will focus on promoting healthy ageing among culturally and linguistically diverse communities, with the theme “Healthy ageing: Older people are the heart of the family and community”. We can all do our part in supporting older people from multicultural communities to be healthy, active and socially connected, to keep them at the heart of our families and communities. Learn more.

Celebrating World Refugee Week 2025: Honouring Strength and Resilience

The NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) proudly partnered with key organisations and people with lived experience to mark World Refugee Week 2025. Through a series of impactful events, MHCS celebrated the courage and resilience of refugee communities.

On 18 June, MHCS co-hosted the Refugee Week 1RR Event with the 1 Reserve Road (1RR) Corporate Team and Multicultural Community Group, welcoming over 70 staff members who attended. The event featured heartfelt reflections from Elizabeth Wood, Deputy Secretary, NSW Health; Lisa Woodland, Director of MHCS and Equity and Prevention Service; and Dr Astrid Perry OAM, Settlement Services International (SSI).

A NSW Health staff member and a community representative also shared personal stories of hardship, hope, and resilience, embodying this year’s theme: “Finding Freedom – Diversity in Community.” The event was beautifully complemented by an art exhibition in the 1RR foyer showcasing powerful works by talented artists from refugee backgrounds.

To conclude the week on World Refugee Day, 20 June, MHCS hosted the Engaging Effectively with Refugee Communities Forum, in partnership with NSW Refugee Health Service, SSI, and Health and Social Policy Branch. Around 150 participants joined online to explore new multilingual resources and inclusive health strategies tailored to refugee communities.

Together, these events honoured the strength of refugee communities and reaffirmed NSW Health’s commitment to accessible, culturally safe, and inclusive care for all.

Celebrating Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare

MHCS was honoured to win an award of Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare for the ‘Translated Health Information for Refugee Communities’ project at the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) CORE Awards 2025, held at the State Library NSW on 2 June.

In addition, the ‘Translated Health Information for Refugee Communities’ project proudly received the 2025 NSW Humanitarian Award for the Government and Legal category. The MHCS team attended the awards ceremony hosted by The NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) at the NSW Parliament House on 26 June 2025.

Led in partnership with South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), NSW Refugee Health Service (RHS) and Settlement Services International (SSI), and people with lived experience, this initiative addresses a critical refugee health information gap in NSW. By developing a best practice guide, auditing resources, and translating key materials into 20 refugee languages, the project showcased cultural responsiveness. Learn more.

Empowering South Asian Communities to Prevent Diabetes

On 15 June, MHCS was proud to support Pink Sari and SESLHD to host the 'Stay Healthy, Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes’ forum. The event focused on raising awareness in the South Asian community about modifiable risk factors for type 2 diabetes and empowering attendees to make healthier lifestyle choices through diet and exercise.

Participants heard from expert speakers, including Dr Marianne Gale, Director Population and Community Health SESLHD, Nisha Thacker, dietician, and David Inglis, exercise physiologist, who shared practical strategies for diabetes prevention. A moving panel discussion featured Mr Shashikanth Narasimhaiah, who shared his journey of reversing his diabetes diagnosis through consistent lifestyle changes, providing inspiration to all that that real change is possible. The event also shared a new co-designed diabetes prevention factsheet, available in English and 11 South Asian languages.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family and your community

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect you, your family and your community from serious illness from influenza this winter. Having the flu vaccine is quick, easy and recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over. Book your flu vaccine at your GP or pharmacy today: www.healthdirect.gov.au/nswfluvaccine

Translated resources are available for download to help us encourage the multicultural communities to get vaccinated.

• In-language video messages from trusted GPs and a community advocate in English, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese.
• Social media tiles and posters – 2025 Vaccination Campaign in English, Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Korean, and Vietnamese.
• Social media tiles and posters – 2025 Influenza Vaccination Campaign in English, Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Korean, and Vietnamese.
• Influenza factsheet in Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Farsi, Korean, Nepali, and Vietnamese.
• If you’re a healthcare professional, please download flu vaccination prompt pack in Arabic, Burmese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Dari, Farsi, Korean, Kurdish-Kurmanji, Macedonian, Nepali, and Vietnamese.

No Smoking means No Vaping free resources

NSW Health has developed ‘No Smoking means No Vaping’ resources to increase community awareness that vaping is banned in all smoke-free areas. The posters available in 10 community languages can be downloaded or a selection of printed copies are available to order for free on the NSW Health website.

The ‘No Smoking means No Vaping’ posters can be displayed alongside the ‘No Smoking’ signs but cannot replace them. ‘No Smoking’ signs which are mandated to be displayed under the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000. For more information, visit the NSW Health website.

Know the Dangers of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a deadly gas you can’t see, smell, or taste—making it especially dangerous.

It’s often produced by outdoor heaters and cooking devises like barbeques, which should never be used indoors or in enclosed spacesCarbon monoxide can build up quickly, leading to poisoning indoors. Stay safe and share translated health awareness resources.

Dental care for you and your family

Looking after your teeth and gums helps keep you and your family healthy. A healthy mouth makes it easier to eat, talk, and smile. Good oral health can also help prevent serious problems like infections and heart disease. It’s important for you and your family to see a dentist regularly for a check-up.   

To access free NSW public dental services, you must be a NSW resident who is eligible for Medicare. You must also be a child under 18 years of age, or an adult with an Australian Government concession card.

Parents and guardians need to sign a Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) Bulk Billing Patient Consent Form before their child’s treatment. This allows NSW Health to bulk bill Medicare. There are no costs to you at NSW public dental clinics. The CDBS is an Australian Government program covering general dental care—like check-ups and cleans. If your family is eligible, you can get free dental care at most private dental clinics. 

Visit the NSW Health website for more information. 

Australia’s First Multilingual Mental Health Checklist for New Parents 

Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) has launched a Mental Health Checklist, now available in 40 languages, making it the first community-validated, translated tool of its kind in Australia.

The Checklist helps expecting and new parents recognise symptoms of postnatal anxiety and depression, offering tailored resources and in-language support services.

22 July 2025: Addressing Coercive Control in Multicultural Settings Forum. The forum is aimed at equipping organisations and staff supporting culturally and linguistically diverse clients with awareness about coercive control. Event in partnership with the Department of Communities and Justice, Metro Assist and Inner West Council. Register now.

25 July 2025: Accidental Counsellors: Responding to Refugee Trauma Related Distress and Crises. This webinar hosted by STARTTS will provide essential skills to offer immediate, compassionate and culturally safe support. Register now.

31 August 2025: Call for Abstracts - 4th Australian and New Zealand Refugee Trauma Recovery in Resettlement Conference in Sydney on 4-6 May 2026. Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) is inviting submissions for abstracts from researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience to contribute to the conference. Submissions for abstracts are now open, with a deadline of 31 August 2025. Submit now.

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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