Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities
Personal attributes such as culture, language, religion, family, education, and social background are determinants of enablement that can positively or negatively affect how well a person can look after their health.
Working effectively with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people and communities is essential for healthcare providers in NSW given the diversity in our population.
Principles for working with CALD people
Cultural Diversity
Australians were born in almost 200 different countries. More than one in four people in NSW were born overseas.
Linguistic Diversity
One in three people in NSW speaks a language other than English at home and nearly one in 20 does not speak English well or at all.
Spiritual and Religious Diversity
Religious and spiritual beliefs can be a personal determinant of enablement. They can also influence components of enablement.
Working with Vulnerable People
The ability to access appropriate healthcare is a major component of a person’s enablement. People from CALD backgrounds can face multiple barriers to accessible healthcare.
Resources
Interpreting and translating resources
- Multicultural Health Communication ServiceOrganisationNSW HealthDescriptionTranslation services for health information and translation and checking guidelines for health staff.Licensing/Cost--
- Policy Directive: Interpreters – Standard Procedures for Working with Health Care InterpretersOrganisationNSW HealthDescriptionThis Policy Directive describes when and how to work with health care interpreters to support safe effective and clear communication between health staff and patients their carers and families.Licensing/Cost--
- NSW Health: Health care interpreting and translating servicesOrganisationNSW HealthDescriptionPatients their families and carers who do not speak English as a first language or who are Deaf have the right to free confidential and professional interpreters when they use public health services. This page has links to free interpreter services and translation services across NSW Health.Licensing/Cost--
- TIS – National Translating and interpreting serviceOrganisationDepartment of Home AffairsDescriptionFree service for private medical practitioners general practice staff pharmacies private allied health emergency services NGOs and others.Licensing/Cost--
- National Relay ServiceOrganisationNational Relay ServiceDescriptionA phone solution for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment.Licensing/Cost--
- Using interpreters: a guide for GPsOrganisationRACGPDescriptionArticle outlining Australia’s system for providing interpreters for medical consultations and optimal ways of working with interpreters. Reprinted from Australian Family Physician Vol. 39 No. 4 April 2010.Licensing/Cost--
Resources for linguistic diversity
- Auslan SignbankOrganisationAuslan SignbankDescriptionAuslan Signbank is a language resources site for Auslan (Australian Sign Language) which includes a dictionary searchable database of signs links to Auslan classes and other resources.Licensing/Cost--
Resources for working with CALD people and communities
- Multicultural Health Communication ServiceOrganisationNSW HealthDescriptionProvides multilingual resources translation service information and advice support for research with CALD communities support for communications activities and events.Licensing/Cost--
- Exploring the role of self?management programmes in caring for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Melbourne AustraliaOrganisationHealth ExpectationsDescriptionArticle that examines the extent to which a self-management program required modification for people with chronic illness from Vietnamese Greek Chinese and Italian communities.Licensing/Cost--
Resources for working with refugee people
- Refugee Health Network of AustraliaOrganisationThe Refugee Health Network of Australia (RHeaNA)DescriptionThe Refugee Health Network of Australia (RHeaNA) is a national network of health and community professionals who share an interest and/or expertise in refugee health.Licensing/Cost--
- Promoting Refugee HealthOrganisationFoundation House – The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture IncDescriptionA online guide for doctors nurses and other health care providers caring for people from refugee backgrounds.Licensing/Cost--
- Trauma-Informed Care and Practice in Mental Health ServicesOrganisationACI Mental Health NetworkDescriptionA project that aims to improve the experience of care for consumers families and staff through the provision of Trauma-Informed Care and Practice in mental health services. Includes links to further reading.Licensing/Cost--
- Appointment Reminder Translation ToolOrganisationNSW Multicultural Health Communication ServiceDescriptionA tool that allows allows you to translate appointment details into your client's language.Licensing/Cost--