We are pleased to support the 2022 Multicultural Health Week (5-11 September). The Multicultural Health Week highlights the importance of embracing language and culture in our health services. It also provides an opportunity to raise awareness about health challenges facing our multicultural communities. This year’s Cancer Screening Saves Lives theme raises awareness of cancer screening, to increase bowel, breast, and cervical cancer screening among CALD communities.

The 2021 Census data show more than 29 per cent of all New South Wales residents were born overseas and more than 30 per cent speak a language other than English at home.

Partner with us
Get in touch with us at the Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub if you would like to organise an in-language cancer screening information session for your community. Sessions are available on bowel, breast, and cervical cancer screening, in Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, Korean, Mongolian, or Vietnamese languages.


 
A range of multilingual cancer screening resources are also available on www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/events/multicultural-health-week/2022/cancer-screening-resources-by-language.

For more information on CALD health in the District, please contact Barbara Luisi, Director, Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 9515 1234.

Every year on 28th July, World Hepatitis Day is observed to raise global awareness of hepatitis and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Sydney Local Health District is reminding local communities of the importance of hepatitis B testing for early diagnosis.

“Testing for hepatitis B can’t wait. Many people in our community are still unaware they may be living with chronic hepatitis B,” said Professor Benjamin Cowie, director of the Australian WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis at the Doherty Institute.

“Without care and treatment, hepatitis B can lead to liver cancer. Still in 2022 worldwide, a person dies every 30 seconds from a hepatitis related illness. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are the key to prevent these tragic outcomes. The only way to find out whether you have hepatitis B is to get tested,” added Professor Cowie.

The Are you living with hepatitis B? Find Out. Get Tested campaign encourages people from diverse communities to get tested for hepatitis B and look after their liver health. Campaign messages are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

“We are here to help our diverse communities take care of themselves and look after their liver health,” said Barbara Luisi, Director of Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub. “Our campaign gives quick access to culturally appropriate information so people can make informed decisions and take action.”

“We encourage community members to ask their doctor about hepatitis B and book a test. Hepatitis B testing is free if you have a Medicare card. If you don’t have a Medicare Card, most NSW Health Sexual Health Clinics can offer free testing. In Australia, all conversations with your doctor remain private,” added Ms Luisi.

This HIV Testing Week (1-7 June) is urging people, including those from diverse backgrounds to resume routine HIV testing.

Early diagnoses helps people get effective treatments in time and reduce the risks of passing on HIV to others.

Data released by NSW Health shows HIV testing rates dropped in 2021 due to COVID-19 disruptions. Laboratories tests in NSW were 15% lower in 2021 than in 2019. Home testing via Dried Blood Spot (DBS) dropped by 50% in the last quarter of 2021 than in the previous quarter.

There are many options to get a HIV test. HIV testing is free if you have a Medicare card. Temporary visitors in NSW without a Medicare card may go to Sexual Health Clinics for free, easy and confidential services. For people wanting to avoid crowded places such doctor’s offices and clinics, the online DBS test remain a popular option.

DBS testing kit is available for order from hivtest.health.nsw.gov.au. For more information, download 2021 NSW Multicultural Health Communication Award-winning resource HIV – What you need to know for more information here.

Sydney Local Health District is encouraging local communities to come back to their doctors and resume their critical liver health checks.

“Now is the time to take care of ourselves and look after your liver health. If you are living with chronic hepatitis B, getting tested and finding whether you have hepatitis B is part of it. Without treatment, chronic hepatitis B can lead to liver cancer. Postponing your hepatitis B test may delay life-saving treatment,” said Barbara Luisi, Director of Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub.

The Are you living with hepatitis B? Find Out. Get Tested campaign developed by the Diversity Programs and Strategy Hub encourages people from diverse communities to get tested for hepatitis B and look after their liver health. Starting May 2^nd, the month-long state-wide campaign across ethnic newspaper, radio and social media campaign aims to raise awareness of hepatitis B testing and treatment across the Arabic-speaking, Chinese-speaking, Korean, Sub-Saharan African, and Vietnamese communities living in NSW.

Visit our multilingual Hepatitis B Testing Options Page for more information. A multilingual resource toolkit, which includes the campaign digital and hard copy resources is available on the campaign webpage.

For more information, please call Sonam Paljor at 0436 649 000 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.