Multicultural Health Initiatives
Inventory 2014
Public Health and Clinical Services Division
health.wa.gov.au
Executive Summary
In 2014, the Cultural Diversity Unit (CDU) within the Chronic Disease Prevention Directorate
(CDPD) undertook an inventory of services, programs and policies (the Inventory). The
Inventory sought to identify what WA Health offers and funds other agencies to offer, that either
directly or indirectly address the health needs of consumers and communities from culturally
and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CaLD). The Inventory also intended to assist the WA
Health Multicultural Health Reference Group1 build an understanding of current multicultural
health work within the public health system.
Given the potential scale of the project, it was decided to conduct the Inventory in stages
commencing with Directorates of the Public Health and Clinical Services Division (PHCSD).
Further work will be decided at a later time.
The Inventory aimed to:
•
•
Highlight and promote current programs that support people from CaLD backgrounds across
the PHCSD.
Provide an opportunity to share good practice among health professionals responsible for
providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services and other health related activities.
Bring together in one place, information data, policies and programs that the PHCSD
currently provide to ensure access and equity to health services.
The Inventory captured 44 initiatives, which have been grouped according to their area of
activity, namely, funded projects, workforce development, policy and strategy. The findings
show that the majority of these initiatives were for services preventing chronic disease and
injury. Of these, 16 were administered by the CDPD. The intended audience was the general
population but included CaLD through strategies or elements that ensured reach or relevance to
these populations.
Across PHCSD, five policies and strategies were identified that were inclusive of CaLD
populations. One specific strategy, about responding to the maternity care needs of refugee and
migrant women, is currently in development.
Seven initiatives were concerned with WA Health staff capacity building or workforce
development. These included cultural competency training, support to access volunteering
opportunities in underserviced countries and culturally appropriate behaviour training for
overseas emergency deployment.
1
In March 2013, the WA Health Multicultural Health Reference Group (MHRG) was formed with approval of the Director
General with the aim to facilitate collaboration and communication among WA Health services and programs on policies and
practices as they affect culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) consumers and carers. This aim is consistent with supporting
the WA Health Strategic Intent 2010 – 2015, most especially caring for individuals and the community and caring for those who
need it most.
1
Other initiatives that included CaLD were:



The research capabilities of the Epidemiology and Data Linkage Branches to link and map
CaLD population data to inform policies and planning
Communication strategies for the general population using simple language and diverse
images Provision of translated material when a specific request or need is identified.
Support in primary health care service, delivering accessible and equitable health care
through the REACH program.
The duration of these activities varied across the PHCSD. Funded projects/programs had a
specific duration, often lasting several years, while a number of activities had ‘ongoing’
arrangements and a small number of activities were provided ‘as needed or as required’.
2
Multicultural Health Initiatives Inventory 2014 Activity List
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
Intended
audience
Duration
The Nurse Practitioner (NP) Health and
Wellness Service provides expert
primary health care across a range of
community settings. NP works in
partnership with other REACH staff to
optimise primary health care service
delivery that encompasses marginalised
groups including those who are socially
disadvantaged; migrants and refugees
and homeless youth.
Nursing and
Midwifery
Office
General
Ongoing
General
Ongoing
Direct health
services
1
Nurse Practitioner
(NP) Health and
Wellness Service
Through REACH –
(Roaming Education
and Community
Health)
(08) 9222
4296
NursingandMid
wiferyOffice@
health.wa.gov.
au
Major focus of service delivery is to
provide accessible and equitable health
care to clients while providing NP
students with:




Comprehensive primary health care
experiences
Client assessment and management
Skills in health education and
promotion
Experience in development of chronic
disease management plans
This is a partnership between DoH,
Central Institute of Technology, Curtin
University, the Australian Government
and Health Workforce Australia.
Funded projects
2
Online
Cultural
Competency
Training on Sexual
Health and Blood
Borne Viruses
(SHBBV)
(MMRC funded to
deliver under service
agreement with
CDCD)
This online training seeks to enhance
cultural competence of providers of
SHBBV services.
The SHBBV Program funded the
Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre
(MMRC) to develop the training.
Communicable
Disease
Control
Directorate
(CDCD)
(08) 9388
4841
cdc@health.w
a.gov.au
3
3
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
Intended
audience
Duration
Output from service
agreement with
Hepatitis WA
A funding contract with Hepatitis WA to
engage and consult with targeted
community groups to determine
community needs regarding viral
hepatitis and how these may be best
addressed. CaLD groups are one of the
targeted community groups.
Communicable
Disease
Control
Directorate
General
2017
CaLD
Ongoing
CaLD
Ongoing
General
Ongoing
General
Ongoing
(Hepatitis WA
funded to deliver
under service
agreement with
CDCD)
4
Ending HIV
campaign
(WA Aids Council
funded to deliver
under service
agreement with
CDCD)
5
Sharing Stories
(MMRC funded to
deliver under service
agreement with
CDPD)
(08) 9388
4841
cdc@health.w
a.gov.au
A large grant with the WA AIDS Council
includes the Ending HIV Campaign which
seeks to promote HIV prevention and
care and reduce stigma messages to
CaLD (particularly African) communities
in WA.
Communicable
Disease
Control
Directorate
(08) 9388
4841
cdc@health.w
a.gov.au
SHBBV funded Metropolitan Migrant
Resource Centre to provide prevention
and community health promotion
activities to CaLD communities.
Communicable
Disease
Control
Directorate
(08) 9388
4841
cdc@health.w
a.gov.au
6
Child Safety
(Kidsafe)
(Kidsafe WA funded
to deliver under
service agreement
with CDPD)
7
Falls Prevention
Seasonal child safety campaigns
Translated into a number of languages
Kidsafe WA targets CaLD groups in a
variety of different ways:

Conducting presentations with CaLD
groups on request (promoted via
seasonal mail outs).
 Providing relevant resources when
requested – CaLD DVD and
facilitators guide which has been
translated into eight different
languages.
 Attending events to promote CaLD
resources and information.
 Currently Kidsafe WA is evaluating
the CaLD DVD resource.
Stay On Your Feet WA® is a community
awareness-raising program, which aims
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Principal
Policy Officer –
(Injury), Ph
92226806.
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
Chronic
Disease
4
Activity
(ICCWA funded to
deliver under service
agreement with
CDPD)
Brief description
Responsible
officer
to promote healthy, active ageing in
Western Australia (WA) to reduce falls
and the severity of fall-related injuries
among seniors. The program aims to
achieve this by raising awareness that
falls are preventable and not a
consequence of ageing through the
promotion of the Nine Steps To Stay On
Your Feet®.
Prevention
Directorate
Awareness raising initiatives:






8
Water Safety
(RLSSWA funded to
deliver under service
agreement with
CDPD)
Duration
General
Ongoing
Principal
Policy Officer –
(Injury), Ph
92226806.
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
Five Stay On Your Feet® grants were
awarded to initiatives specifically
targeting CaLD community needs.
Many of the 130 events registered for
2013 were CaLD inclusive.
The Up off the Floor poster was
redeveloped to be more accessible
for CaLD and ATSI populations as
well as people with impaired vision.
New exercise resources developed to
be more accessible for CaLD and
ATSI populations.
Community and health worker’s
electronic newsletters redeveloped to
be more accessible for CaLD
populations. Utilising and promoting
the use of online translation software
to make falls prevention messages
available to CaLD staff and
community members.
Dissemination of existing CaLD
Resources though the SOYFWA®
Information Centre include Italian,
Polish and Cantonese speakers kits
and Italian DVDs for WACHS
hospitals in the South West region.
Swim & Survive is a swimming and water
safety program that is run by the Royal
Life Saving Society WA (RLSSWA) and
is aligned to the National Swimming and
Water Safety Framework and develops
skills across the following areas:




Intended
audience
Entries and exits;
Sculling and body orientation;
Movement and swimming strokes;
Survival and personal floatation
device skills;
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Principal
Policy Officer –
(Injury), Ph
(08)
92226806.
CDPDadmin@
5
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer


health.wa.gov.
au
Rescue skills;
Water safety knowledge.
Intended
audience
Duration
General
June
2014
General
June
2015
General
April
2014
Specific activities and programs that
cater to CaLD communities include:


9
Food literacy and
skills development
program for adults
(Cancer Council
WA, Red Cross and
Foodbank funded to
deliver under service
agreement with
CDPD)
Keep Watch parent/carer
presentations for new arrivals and
migrant women’s groups;
Water safety DVD developed in
multiple languages for new arrivals to
WA.
Run by the Cancer Council WA, Red
Cross and Foodbank, this face to face
small group nutrition education program
aims to increase the prevalence of
healthy eating behaviours amongst WA
adults and families living in low socioeconomic circumstances.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Obesity,
Physical
Activity and
Nutrition team
(08) 9222
4144
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
10
Adolescent Cooking
Program – UCook
(Foodbank funded to
deliver under service
agreement with
CDPD)
Designed specifically for adolescents,
UCook is a series of community based
cooking and nutrition information
sessions aimed at improving participants’
confidence to prepare and cook healthy
meals in a fun and interactive
environment.
The sessions, provided by Foodbank,
focus on adolescents from low socioeconomic circumstances and include
consultations with CaLD youth.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Obesity,
Physical
Activity and
Nutrition team
(08) 9222
4144
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
11
Food Literacy
Review
(Dr Andrea Begley,
A one-off grant has been awarded to Dr
Andrea Begley, Curtin University to
research best practice in food literacy
interventions and review existing funded
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
6
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
Curtin University,
funded to deliver
under service
agreement with
CDPD)
food literacy programs. This work will
help inform future investment decisions
and may set new directions for food
literacy programs and delivery models in
WA.
Directorate
Methodology includes literature review,
consultations and evaluation of current
programs (including CaLD).
Intended
audience
Duration
General
2015
General
Ongoing
General
June
2015
Obesity,
Physical
Activity and
Nutrition team
(08) 9222
4144
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
12
Crunch & Sip
(Cancer Council WA
funded to deliver
under service
agreement with
CDPD)
Crunch&Sip is a set break to eat fruit or
salad vegetables and drink water in the
classroom. Students re-fuel with fruit or
vegetables during the morning or
afternoon, assisting physical and mental
performance and concentration in the
classroom.
Through Crunch&Sip, schools
demonstrate their commitment to
nutrition education in the classroom by
making links with the curriculum and
creating a supportive school
environment.
13
LiveLighter
(Heart Foundation
WA and Cancer
Council WA funded
to deliver under
service agreement
with CDPD)
14
Talking with parents
about weight
(training)
(Better Health
Company funded to
deliver under service
Launched in 2012 with mass media
advertising, the program engages with
the community through social media,
online and printed resources, advocacy
and retailer strategies.
LiveLighter is a statewide program run by
the Heart Foundation WA and Cancer
Council WA that aims to encourage
Western Australian adults to lead
healthier lifestyles - to make changes to
what they eat and drink and to be more
active.
This is an online professional
development resource aimed to equip
health professionals with additional skills
and confidence to raise and have
constructive conversations about child
overweight and obesity with parents of
overweight and obese children.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Obesity,
Physical
Activity and
Nutrition team
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Obesity,
Physical
Activity and
Nutrition team
(08) 9222
4144
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Obesity,
Physical
Activity and
7
15
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
agreement with
CDPD)
The resource has been developed by the
Better Health Company and is part of a
suite of WA Healthy Children Programs
funded under the National Partnership
Agreement on Preventative Health
(NPAPH).
Nutrition team
A public campaign in Australia to
increase awareness about the benefits of
eating fruit and vegetables. This project
is winding down and no longer funded in
WA, however, there are translated
resources available on the website in the
following languages: Arabic, Chinese,
Italian, Khmer, Korean, Macedonian,
Serbian, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Go for 2&5® website
(Cancer Council WA
funded to deliver
under service
agreement with
CDPD)
Intended
audience
Duration
General
June
2015
General
June
2015
General
June
2015
(08) 9222
4144
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
Obesity,
Physical
Activity and
Nutrition team
(08) 9222
4144
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
16
Eat Play Thrive
(Ngala funded to
deliver under service
agreement with
CDPD)
Eat Play Thrive, provided by Ngala,
focuses on educating and empowering
families to lead a healthier lifestyle.
The program is designed for parents and
carers of children aged 1 – 12 years and
is conducted through local primary
schools, playgroups and other
community organisations. In most
circumstances, a crèche is available for
children aged 0– 4 years.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Obesity,
Physical
Activity and
Nutrition team
(08) 9222
4144
Two post evaluation surveys were
CDPDadmin@
developed, one specifically for ‘English
as a second language’ (ESL) participants health.wa.gov.
and the other for participants with English au
as their first language.
17
WA Healthy Schools
Project (WAHSP)
(WAHSP funded to
deliver under service
agreement with
CDPD)
The WAHSP aims to increase
participation rates in physical activity and
increase the consumption of healthy food
and drinks by school children. The
WAHSP is funded until 2014/15 through
the NPAPH, healthy children initiative.
The WAHSP will continue to work with
schools with populations most at risk of
poor health outcomes to increase
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Obesity,
Physical
Activity and
Nutrition team
8
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
physical activity and healthy eating in
these communities.
(08) 9222
4144
Intended
audience
Duration
General
Ongoing
General
Ongoing
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
18
Quitline
(Alcohol and Drug
Information Service
funded to deliver
under service
agreement with
CDPD)
Delivered by the Alcohol and Drug
Information Service and funded by WA
Health, Quitline is a confidential service,
providing individually tailored assistance,
advice and call back counselling
programs to those attempting to quit
smoking.
It is available 24h/day, 7days/week, for
the cost of a local call.
Guidelines are maintained for language
service provision.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Tobacco
Policy team,
92226800.
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
Quitline counsellors have general
sensitivity approach to counselling, and
when a language barrier is apparent,
interpreters from the Translating and
Interpreting Service are engaged to help
facilitate effective communication.
Resources can be provided in many
languages, through links with
Government and non-government
agencies nationally.
19
Make Smoking
History campaign
(Cancer Council WA
funded to deliver
under service
agreement with
CDPD)
Established in 2000 as an initiative of the
Cancer Council WA and jointly funded by
WA Health, Healthway and Cancer
Council WA, the campaign aims to
reduce the prevalence of smoking among
adults in WA.
The Make Smoking History Campaign
employs a comprehensive range of
strategies including:




Hard-hitting mass media advertising.
Production and distribution of public
education materials.
Professional development and
workforce capacity building.
Community-based support strategies,
(including strategies for CaLD
people) counselling and referral
through the Fresh Start program and
research and evaluation.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Tobacco
Policy team,
92226800.
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
9
20
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
Intended
audience
Duration
Refugee and
Migrant Women’s
Health
ISHAR Multicultural Women’s Health
Centre provides antenatal care for
refugee and migrant women. ISHAR
accepts referrals from all maternity
services in the North Metro Health
Service area including King Edward
Memorial Hospital, Osborne Park
Hospital (OPH) and Joondalup Health
Campus. ISHAR has maintained a strong
link with OPH as the majority of women
attending antenatal care will birth at
OPH.
Nursing and
Midwifery
Office
CaLD
Ongoing
CaLD
Three
years
General
As
required
(ISHAR Multicultural
Women’s Health
Centre funded to
deliver under service
agreement with
NMO)
(08) 9222
4296
NursingandMid
wiferyOffice@
health.wa.gov.
au
Additionally ISHAR provides a range of
women’s health services.
WA Health funds the program and the
Nursing and Midwifery Office reports on
them via the Maternity Services Inter
jurisdictional Committee.
21
Community
Midwifery WA
(CMWA)
(Gosnells
Multicultural
Women’s Health
Clinic funded to
deliver under service
agreement with
NMO)
Gosnells Multicultural Women’s Health
Clinic provides antenatal care and
general health care to CaLD women
which links with Armadale Hospital.
WA Health funds the program and the
Nursing and Midwifery Office reports on
them via the Maternity Services Inter
jurisdictional Committee.
Nursing and
Midwifery
Office
(08) 9222
4296
NursingandMid
wiferyOffice@
health.wa.gov.
au
Research
22
Data linkage
research projects
Requests for specific information may be
made to the Data Linkage Branch to
inform research, policy or strategy. Data
linkage has the capability to link CaLD
information based on data collected
through existing data collections such as:








DataServices
@health.wa.go
v.au
Hospital Separations
Cancer Registrations
Midwives Notifications
Mental Health Contacts
Death Registrations
Birth Registrations
Electoral Roll Records
Emergency Presentation
10
23
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
Intended
audience
Duration
Epidemiological
Assessments
Requests for specific information may be
made to Epidemiology branch to inform
various policy or strategy developments.
Epidemiology provides information
through data sourced from the ABS and
relevant WA Health sources. Has
potential to do the same for CaLD
statistics as long as CaLD populations
are identified in those sources.
Epidemiology
Branch
General
Ongoing
General
Ongoing
(08) 9222
6814
epi@health.wa
.gov.au
The Epidemiology Assessment Unit
conducts epidemiological research and
analyses for specific projects and
requests. Using simple and complex
analysis techniques and statistical
models, they focus on particular regions,
conditions or population groups.
Examples of their output include:







Performance reporting
Evaluation of health interventions
Sector performance analysis
Quality of care assessment
Survival analysis
Routine and special data requests
Statistical advice and interpretation
They also undertake collaborative
projects involving linked data and value
add to both internal and external sources
of data.
They have provided information relating
to CaLD statistics in the past.
Monitoring and
surveillance
24
Health and
Wellbeing
Surveillance System
(HWSS)
The HWSS explains unique, regional
population based estimate of prevalence
and provides up to date and readily
available information about the general
wellbeing of the population, risk factors,
chronic diseases, demographics and
health service utilisation. This information
is a key source of information for Council
of Australian Government reporting.
Epidemiology
(08) 9222
6814
epi@health.wa
.gov.au
Respondents who do not speak English
as their first language but have some
conversational competency are
11
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
Intended
audience
Duration
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
General
Ongoing
General
Ongoing
encouraged to take part, and where
possible, are assigned an interviewer
with experience in conducting such
interviews (this sometimes involves
taking longer to go through the
questions, enlisting the help of a family
member in translating certain questions,
or using a bilingual interviewer).
Since mid-2013, interviews which
involved any of these steps have been
coded to assist identification of the
number of people participating who don't
speak English as a first language.
25
Nutrition Monitoring
Survey
DoH
The Nutrition Monitoring Survey
statewide survey of Western Australian
adults has been conducted at about 3
year intervals since 1995. It measures
nutrition knowledge, attitudes and beliefs
of Western Australians in relation to the
Australian Dietary Guidelines.
Demographic information collected
includes country of birth.
Obesity,
Physical
Activity and
Nutrition team
(08) 9222
4144
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
Workforce
development
26
Global Health
Alliance of WA
(GHAWA)
GHAWA contributes to the development
of health systems’ ability to deliver quality
services for vulnerable communities in
developing countries and underserved
populations. The GHAWA program
supports WA Health staff to access
volunteering opportunities overseas and
raise awareness of multicultural issues.
The benefit includes developing a
resilient WA Health workforce that
operates as global citizens working in a
culturally diverse society.
Nursing and
Midwifery
Office
(08) 9222
4296
NursingandMid
wiferyOffice@
health.wa.gov.
au
As part of the DoH commitment to
improving health care sustainability in
underserviced countries, staff can access
12
27
Activity
Brief description
Community Service
Leave
two weeks of paid special leave. Staff
can use this to participate in corporate
social responsibly and volunteer activities
such as the ISTIH2 volunteer and the
GHAWA3 programs. The Nursing and
Midwifery Office is the principal
administrator of the Community Service
Leave program.
Intended
audience
Duration
Disaster
General
Management,
Regulation and
Planning
Directorate
Annual
training
event
Responsible
officer
The NMO has the international health
portfolio for reporting WA Government
activities in this area, including the
Department of Health GHAWA, an
international health program.
28
Australian Medical
Assistance Team
(AUSMAT)
Workforce
development – WA
Health staff
General training for health staff
volunteering for AUSMAT with a large
component focused on culturally
appropriate behaviour in host countries,
for example, clothing requirements for
female volunteers.
ausmat@healt
h.wa.gov.au
(08) 9222
2437
29
Sexual Health and
Blood Borne Virus
Program – Cultural
Competency
Training in sensitive
topics
Provision of cultural competency training
about sexual health and blood borne
viruses (sensitive topics) to the WA
Health workforce.
Communicable
Disease
Control
Directorate
General
Ongoing
(08) 9388
4841
cdc@health.w
a.gov.au
30
Sexual health and
blood borne virus
training for
interpreters
Training conducted in March 2014 to:
•
•
Impart information about sexual
health and blood borne viruses.
Raise interpreter awareness of these
sensitive and often stigmatised health
topics.
Communicable
Disease
Control
Directorate
General
(08) 9388
2 The International Skills and Training Institute in Health (ISTIH) is a not-for-profit organisation, which provides assistance to health care
professionals and workers throughout the Asia Pacific region. ISTIH also develops specialised training programs in Medicine, Nursing and Allied
Health to suit local community needs.
3
The GHAWA program is a Department of Health capacity building initiative that supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goals
and assists health professionals to deliver improvements in maternal and child health through education and training.
13
Activity
31
WA Health’s Cultural
Competency
Training for working
with people from
CaLD backgrounds
Brief description
Responsible
officer
•
4841
This training seeks to equip the WA
Health workforce (including mental health
staff) with the knowledge, skills and tools
to manage cross-cultural health
encounters and deliver inclusive, timely,
safe and effective health care. Topics
include:






32
Multicultural Health
Diversity Café
Familiarise participants with terms
used and their equivalent in the
languages they are interpreting for.
Intended
audience
Duration
General
Ongoing
General
Ongoing
General
Ongoing
cdc@health.w
a.gov.au
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
CulturalDiversi
ty@health.wa.
gov.au
Working in a culturally competent
manner.
Diversity in WA and Australia.
The health of people from CaLD
backgrounds.
Communicating effectively across
cultures.
Working with CaLD groups/engaging
CaLD consumers, carers and
communities.
Working with interpreters.
The Multicultural Health Diversity Café,
held twice each year, brings together
service providers from government and
non-government agencies to discuss
effective strategies when engaging and
providing health services for people from
culturally and linguistically diverse
backgrounds.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
CulturalDiversi
ty@health.wa.
gov.au
Topics covered include:


Understanding the health needs of
refugees, young people, older people
and women from CaLD backgrounds.
Chronic disease prevention through
promoting healthy lifestyles and good
nutrition for CaLD populations.
Policy or strategy
33
WA Health
Language Services
Policy
The WA Health Language Services
Policy has been developed to apply the
Western Australian Language Services
Policy 2008 within the unique conditions
and complexities of the public health
system.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
CulturalDiversi
ty@health.wa.
14
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
The policy aims to ensure that:
gov.au



34
35
36
The WA Health
Promotion Strategic
Framework 2012–
2016 (WA HPSF)
Refugee and
Migrant Women
Continuity of Care
Models
Westplan –
Heatwave and
Human Epidemic
Strategy
Intended
audience
Duration
General
Ongoing
CaLD
In
develop
ment
All consumers and carers who need
assistance with English or who are
deaf or hearing impaired are provided
with access to appropriate
interpreting and translating
assistance.
All WA Health staff who deal with
consumers and carers have the
knowledge and skills to assess the
need for language assistance and to
engage appropriate interpreting and
translating services.
There are suitable procedures and
processes in place to enable
appropriate and timely engagement
of interpreters and translators,
particularly for health situations that
have health, legal or other risks for
consumers, health service providers
or WA Health.
The WA HPSF 2012–2016 sets out WA
Health’s strategic directions and priorities
for the prevention of chronic disease and
injury over the next five years.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
The goal of the HPSF is to lower the
incidence of avoidable chronic disease
and injury in WA by facilitating
improvements in health behaviours and
environments. The framework addresses
‘at risk’ groups including CaLD
communities.
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
The Refugee & Migrant Women working
group was formed late in 2012 to inform
the Continuity of Care Models being
developed for WA. The main aim is to
ensure continuum of care for all refugee
and migrant women irrespective of risk
and other factors.
Nursing and
Midwifery
Office
These are State level plans that outline
the roles and responsibilities of all
agencies in a declared heatwave or
human epidemic. WA Health, through
Disaster
General
Management,
Regulation and
Planning
(08) 9222
4296
NursingandMid
wiferyOffice@
health.wa.gov.
au
Ongoing
15
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
DPMU, is responsible for these plans.
Directorate
In recognition of the cultural diversity
within WA, heatwave information is
tailored to effectively communicate,
disaster information across the State.
Agencies are responsible for becoming
proactive in communicating information
e.g. using ethnic radio to share
information.
medicalmanag
ement@health
.wa.gov.au
Intended
audience
Duration
General
Ongoing
General
and
CaLD
Ongoing
(08) 9222
2368
Translated fact sheets in a number of
languages are developed, when
required.
37
General tobacco
policy related activity
WA Health plays a key role in this area
through participation of the Tobacco
Policy Section on a range of national
committees and working groups, some of
which it Chairs.
This involves:


Ongoing collaboration with
Government and non-government
agencies across jurisdictions,
ensuring a coordinated approach and
effective use of resources, and
Referral/sharing of existing resources
and appropriate materials for CaLD
populations, for a coordinated
approach to providing education and
smoking cessation assistance to this
group.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Tobacco
Policy team,
92226800.
CDPDadmin@
health.wa.gov.
au
Communication
38
WA Health
multicultural health
webpage
The WA Health multicultural health
webpage was developed to serve as an
online resource for both health service
providers and consumers.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
Initially developed to support the
implementation of the WA Health
Language Services Policy, it now
provides access to a range of
multicultural health information and
resources, translated information and the
WA Health Language Services Policy
support toolkit.
CulturalDiversi
ty@health.wa.
gov.au
http://www.health.wa.gov.au/multicultural
health/home/
16
39
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
Intended
audience
Duration
Sexual health and
blood-borne viruses
- multicultural sexual
health website
The Sexual health and blood-borne
viruses - multicultural sexual health
website was created to provide
information on sexual health and blood
borne viruses, referral and language
options for the multicultural communities
of Western Australia.
Communicable
Disease
Control
Directorate
General
Ongoing
It aims to increase access to sexual
health services for people from CaLD
populations, serve as a resource for
service providers in need of multicultural
resources and referral options, and
provides information on policy and
training opportunities.
cdc@health.w
a.gov.au
And
CaLD
(08) 9388
4841
http://www.public.health.wa.gov.au/2/171
6/2/multicultural_sexual_health.pm
40
Sexual health and
blood borne virus
resources
Mainstream
Resources developed are culturally
sensitive/ appropriate and use diversity
of people in all documents, photos and
video footage.
Communicable
Disease
Control
Directorate
By using diversity of images, connections
with all, not just one section of the
community is made ensuring inclusion of
CaLD and Aboriginal populations.
(08) 9388
4841
http://www.public.health.wa.gov.au/2/569
/2/sexual_health_and_bloodborne_virus_
homepage.pm
cdc@health.w
a.gov.au
The Newborn Screening Program has
translated materials regarding newborn
screening and seeking consent for use
by midwives and General Practitioners.
These are in 5 languages, namely,
Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, Thai and
Vietnamese.
Office of
Population
Health
Genomics
Translations or
visual materials
and/or manuals
41
Newborn Screening
Program
Translated materials
The Office of Population Health
Genomics, which provides resource
support to this program, developed these
in response to a request from Princess
Margaret Hospital.
General
As
required
(08) 9222
6888
genomics@he
alth.wa.gov.au
17
42
Activity
Brief description
Responsible
officer
Intended
audience
Duration
Emerging health
issues
Environmental Health is proactive in
providing appropriate messages to
ensure the provision of suitable
information to the public on emerging
health issues or concerns.
Environmental
Health
Directorate
CaLD
As
required
Myanmar
Health
Executive
s
Invitation
sent
February
2014
General
Ongoing
In one instance, translated information
was developed to minimise the
possible health implications of meningitis
cases that could arise from the religious
practice of using ‘Neti Pots’ (nasal
irrigation). These were distributed
throughout detention centres, as
required.
(08) 9388
4999
ehinfo@health.
wa.gov.au
Other
43
International Health (ISTIH)
Cultural
collaboration
between WA and
Myanmar
44
WA Health
Multicultural
Reference Group
ISTIH facilitates cultural collaboration
between Myanmar and Western
Australian health executives through a
joint invitation from the Premier and
ISTIH)for Myanmar Health Executives to
visit WA.
Chief Health
Professions
Office
chpo@health.
wa.gov.au
(08) 9222
2493
The WA Health Multicultural Reference
Group was established to improve
coordination, communication and
collaboration within WA Health on
policies, service and programs to ensure
that CaLD people have access to safe
and high quality healthcare.
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
Directorate
CulturalDiversi
ty@health.wa.
gov.au
.
18
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© Department of Health 2014
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