Key Points
- The 2021 Census showed diverse languages spoken in Australia, prompting experts to plan multilingual, culturally relevant health communication.
- Deputy Director of NSW Multicultural Health Communication Services advocated for increased community engagement, highlighting initiatives like the Multicultural media online platform.
- She commended the proactive efforts of the Filipino community in vaccination and information sharing.
Australia thrives as a melting pot of cultures and languages, distinguishing it as one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries worldwide. As highlighted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, communities with diverse languages, customs, and beliefs frequently encounter barriers when trying to access and grasp essential health information.
The 2021 Census found more than 300 languages are spoken in homes across Australia – and more than one in five people speak a language other than English at home.
In light of the Census insights, health experts engaged in the National Health and Wellbeing conference organised by Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA) and the Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative, envision a transformative shift towards multilingual information sessions, culturally sensitive health campaigns, and forging alliances with multicultural media.
During a recent interview with one of the speakers, Jesusa Helaratne, Deputy Director of NSW Multicultural Health Communication Services, she emphasized that one size does not fit all in communication strategies. That's why the government, health supporters, media, and multicultural groups are crucial in solving these differences.
"Translation is not the only way to reach communities. We have information sessions through media and there are so many avenues now and movements.
In the Filipino community alone, there are so many ways you can reach people. You can reach them through sports, you can reach them through food but at the end of it, as someone who transitioned from journalism to health communication, I firmly believe it's ultimately about storytelling and how you engage the community."
Helaratne also highlighted the impact of the global health crisis. Not only did COVID-19 pose a viral threat, but it also triggered an "infodemic," inundating the community with misinformation. This led to confusion and fear, underscoring the immediate necessity for clear, timely, and culturally appropriate methods of information dissemination. Despite efforts, numerous barriers persist, hindering the accurate transmission of information.
"A lot of health information is not going through. For example, there are free services for people under 18 in oral health that people don't access simply because they are not aware of it.
I believe that now, more than ever, people are paying closer attention to health issues due to the impact of COVID-19. We should take advantage of that by creating more platforms for discussions. This is precisely what we've done with the Multicultural media online. We ensure that health experts are available for people to listen to and that the media can pose their questions."
She lauded the Filipino community for their proactive stance in vaccine uptake and information dissemination.
"The Filipino community has been really good in getting vaccinated and getting the information to their networks. The media is so close-knit that we work together to help the messages out. I think the key is engagement, respect, and storytelling. "
Helaratne stressed the significance of building trust within culturally and linguistically diverse communities by delivering information through channels and sources they deem reliable.
"You must listen to the right sources. Find what information is relevant to you and where you live. Too much information with the wrong sources is going to stress you out."
