Building health literacy together across South Western Sydney

At SWSPHN, we know health literacy is more than reading a brochure or navigating a website. It’s about empowering everyone in our community to access, understand, and use health information and services to make informed decisions about their health.

SWSPHN, in partnership with South Western Sydney LHD (SWSLHD), has committed to the South Western Sydney Health Literacy Framework.

During the next four years, we’ll implement actions designed to strengthen how health information is communicated, designed and delivered across our region.

Together we have committed to five key actions and health literacy interventions to help make residents in South Western Sydney active partners in their healthcare.

 

What’s happening:

Listening to under-serviced and priority groups

We’re consulting directly with under-serviced and priority populations to make healthcare more accessible and meaningful. At SWSPHN, co-design and consultation will be embedded into all projects, programs, resources and services. Regional partnerships, such as the Fairfield City Health Partnership and Alliance, will continue to focus on health literacy initiatives.

Engaging our community in co-design

Community feedback is crucial. We’re establishing clear pathways for inviting input on programs and services and engaging with community organisations, people with lived experience, religious groups and educational facilities. Regional alliances will be strengthened to ensure the right voices are heard.

Embedding health literacy into policy

Health literacy is core business. Policies and procedures are being updated to ensure services commissioned by SWSPHN meet Health Access and Equity Policy requirements and ensure health literacy remains a priority across both SWSPHN..

Measuring our progress

Using the Organisational Health Literacy Responsiveness (Org-HLR) Tool, we will reflect on how health literacy is addressed in our work, assess our responsiveness, and prioritise improvements based on community feedback and evidence.

 

Why is it important

Our region has a diverse population with varying health, social and cultural needs – all factors which play a role in health literacy.

In South Western Sydney, 45 per cent of residents speak a language other than English at home and 90 per cent of local residents believe they have access to reliable health information.

Up to 66 per cent of people told us they go to their GP for health information but 21 per cent said they did not feel confident following instructions given to them by a health professional.

 

Get involved 

This is just the start. Over the coming months, there’ll be opportunities for staff, health professionals, service providers and community members to take part in planning and implementation activities.