Reflecting on the Success of Our Community Health Events

July 3, 2023

A message from our Chair

Welcome to this month’s newsletter and thank you to all our members, staff and stakeholders for your engagement with the work of the partnership. Welcome back to the Australian College of Midwives who have happily renewed their membership of the MRHP, bringing a critical and integral voice to our committee.

In the absence of any particular news to share, I thought that I’d reflect on our use of the term Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD). On the one hand, CALD is inclusive because it gives people who don’t belong to the dominant culture a form of recognition, a voice. Without referencing CALD, populations are simply not acknowledged, and their needs are not served. However, there may be a downside. Today I sat on a panel planning a review of the impact of a health intervention on CALD communities. What became clear is that what hadn’t been considered was the huge diversity amongst different CALD groups. An examination of one group was not necessarily informative about the outcomes of another. We also discussed the implication of differentiating the dominant culture from the CALD community i.e. there’s white and there’s other, a binary concept that considers CALD groups as homogenous and also fails to recognise that the white, dominant community is actually culturally and linguistically diverse.

The reason that we use the dominant culture as a reference point is because they are the dominant culture. However, to move towards equity I think that our language needs to change. The dominant culture may be socio-economic-politically dominant but globally they are not numerically dominant, and they do not define normality. It would be interesting to write a paper that started with a benchmark of cultural and behavioural norms in Aboriginal, or Indian, or Chinese populations and then compared European outcomes, rather than the way we currently frame the paradigm!

While the MRHP has to focus on our knitting i.e. the health and wellbeing of migrant and refugee populations, we should also challenge ourselves on the terminology we use, acknowledging an impact on broader social discourse and the work that we do.

Dr Vijay Roach

Upcoming Shared Table: Logan, QLD

Migrant Refugee Health Partnership and Social Policy Group are partnering with Ethni on July 8 to bring together an event focus is creating a festival atmosphere to promotion community health and wellbeing.

The program will create a shared space in a common locality where people from Arabic backgrounds can gather to receive expert advice by health officials. It will convey information about COVID-19 vaccinations and education in a safe space where adults, youth and children can learn at the same time. The community can connect with members and health service providers to ensure ongoing impact and increase knowledge of networks and support for the community’s wellness. The aim is to provide culturally sensitive and accessible preventative clinical health information and services to the Arabic community.

Somali Health Expo: Brunswick, VIC

The Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership and Social Policy Group partnered with the Somali Healthcare Professionals to hold a Health Expo for the Somali community in Melbourne on May 28. The Somali Health Expo brought together industry experts, organizations and community members alike, united in their shared goal of improving health outcomes and addressing challenging health topics relating to COVID-19, immunizations, mental health, women's health and staying well & staying active. It was a fantastic day of sharing health information that was truly tailored for the Somali community.

The event was attended by SBS Somali, who spoke to organizers and attendees about the significance of the event and the timeliness of the information. You can listen to the Somali SBS broadcast here: https://www.sbs.com.au/language/somali/so/podcast-episode/warbixinta-bandhigasomali-healthcare-professionals/s6wceg1fm

Read more about the Expo and the work being done by Somali Healthcare Professionals in the LinkedIn post here.

Afghan Health Information Day: Western Sydney, NSW

Migrant Refugee Health Partnership and Social Policy Group in collaboration with Afghan Women on the Move and Kateb Hazara, in partnership with STARTTS held an essential health forum to address the COVID-19 on June 10. The event and speakers focused on providing valuable information regarding virus outbreaks, prevention efforts, and mental health post-pandemic for vulnerable community members. The event was specifically designed to engage and empower newly arrived Afghan refugees, equipping them with vital health information and resources.

Panel members included Fouzia Hamdard, from Refugee Health, Khalida Hussaini from STARTTs Dr. Zia Gul Rezai, Dr. Juli, and Dr. Kerry Chant. Five audience members shared their experiences and concerns about COVID-19, discussing misconceptions, mental health impacts, and religious views regarding vaccinations. The discussions aimed to educate community members from both a religious and professional perspective.

You can read more about the day on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7079224654871089152

ISA World Congress of Sociology

The World Congress of Sociology is being held in Melbourne this week, highlighting the research work being done across the globe in a variety of academic and policy spaces.

Our Health and Mental Health team’s Policy and Project Officer, Claire Momsen, presented the Policy Brief Integrating Culturally, Ethnically and Linguistically Diverse Communities in Rapid Responses to Public Health Crises (2021) as a part of a panel on Women Practitioners in Emergencies. She highlighted the work being done by the Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership to understand the unique role that women from migrant and refugee backgrounds can play in planning for, and responding to, public health emergencies.

The Brief was very well received by the academics and members of the emergency management sector present. Remaining engaged in social research being done in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will enable the Partnership to provide the latest advice to our stakeholders, and provide future opportunities for collaboration.

Call for Comments on the Competency Standards Framework: Five Years On

Launching back in January 2019, the Competency Standards Framework for Clinicians, Culturally responsive clinical practice: Working with people from migrant and refugee backgrounds was a major piece of work produced by the Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership.

Looking forward, and as we approach the 5-year anniversary of the Standards launch, the MRHP Council believes now is the time to review the Standards and ensure they reflect current practice, especially with the rise of telehealth and e-health.

You were invited to examine the standards and make written submissions by the end of August 2023. Please email secretariat@culturaldiversityhealth.org.au for more information.

Have you checked out our series of e-learning courses?

MyAusLearning is regularly adding new e-learning courses for people who work with migrant and refugee communities. Whether you work in the settlement sector, healthcare, the judiciary, or you just want to learn more, there's a course to interest you! Sign up today and receive access to a range of free and paid courses that can be completed in your own time. Any questions about the courses can be directed to courses@myauslearning.org.au.