CALD and refugee Archives

08 March 2024

Harmony Week, celebrated from 18 to 24 March, celebrates multiculturalism, diversity and inclusion.

Foster cultural safety and inclusivity by using the below links:

Translated information for your patients

Health Resource Directory

Health Resource Directory (HRD) is a collection of easy-to-understand health factsheets which have been formulated under strict clinical guidelines. Factsheets include information about local support and health services, and are available in English, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese and Arabic. HRD also includes webpages with reliable health information for people who have been diagnosed with a health condition. You can find links to the directory in the For Patient information section of most HealthPathways clinical pages. Visit Health Resource Directory.

HealthPathways

HealthPathways is a quick and simple-to-use online clinical decision tool with information on:

management and treatment options for clinical conditions
educational resources for patients
referral information for local services and specialists

Some of the many relevant HealthPathways pages include:

05 March 2024

The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) uses interpreters to ensure equitable access to healthcare.

Family members may be unable to translate complex medical information, but TIS can help by providing support in more than 150 languages.

GPs can access the service free to provide Medicare rebateable services.

Use an interpreter to:

break down language barriers between you and your non-English speaking patient
empower diverse communities to access the healthcare services they need
foster inclusivity and promote better health outcomes for everyone

You can contact TIS National Contact Centre on 131 450:

for immediate phone interpreting
to pre-book a FREE interpreter

Time poor, jump the queue:

The Automated Telephone Interpreting Service (ATIS) is an automated interpreting service GPs can call for direct and immediate access to a phone interpreter.

It is available in more than 50 languages.

GPs can access the service by calling 1800 131 450. To use ATIS you need to have a: TIS National client code; ATIS account number; and an ATIS access number. There is no cost for this service for GPs with a TIS account. How do I use ATIS?

Find out more:

SWSPHN Primary Care Resources

TIS National

20 February 2024

TAFE NSW Bankstown is seeking general practices in South Western Sydney willing to host one of 30 TAFE students to do general administration work experience at their service.

The students are undertaking the Refugee and Migrant Health Career Pathway program, a partnership between TAFE NSW, Canterbury Hospital, Bankstown Hospital and Metro Assist.

The program has three elements:

Certificate I Workplace Skills – term 1
Vocational Language and Employment Preparation (health industry focused) – term 2
Up to 30 hours work experience – term 2 (May/ June 2024)

The employment pathway for these students may include:

receptionist
administration assistance
data entry
filing and sorting medical and centre records

Many of the students enrolled in the program are newly arrived or have been in Australia for less than 10 years. The program aims to build the skills of students and provide an opportunity to do work experience which can be added to their resume.

TAFE NSW will cover their workers compensation element of the work experience, as long as they are TAFE NSW students.

If your practice is able to take on a student for work experience during May/June 2024, please email Myriam Bahari at myriam.bahari4@tafensw.edu.au or call on 0491 214 933 by 15 March 2024.

08 December 2023

Have you recently arrived in Australia from Gaza on a Visitor Visa due to the current conflict?

Or are you hosting family members from Gaza and require support?

SSI Crisis Arrival Response Support (NSW) case workers are available to offer advice and guidance.

SSI’s flyer with more information is available in English and Arabic.

SSI can be contacted on 9685 0100.

30 November 2023

The recent violence in Gaza and Israel is resonating within communities across Australia, including those in South Western Sydney. It may also be impacting you directly, people you know or the individuals you serve.

There are valuable resources available to support those impacted during this challenging period.

SWSPHN-commissioned services

Clinical Suicide Prevention Service

headspace

Head to Health

Lifeline – suicide support services

NewAccess South Western Sydney

Online

Headstart

Helplines

Lifeline: call 13 11 14 (24/7) OR text 0477 131 114 (6pm to 12am, seven days)

Kids Helpline (for children and young people five to 25 years): 1800 551 800 (24/7) OR chat online

Beyond Blue Support Service: 1300 224 636 (24/7) OR chat online

MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978 (24/7) OR chat online

GriefLine: 1300 845 745 (12pm to 3am, seven days)

Local services

NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS)

CORE Community Services

Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre

NSW Health

Directory of mental health services and programs  

Transcultural Mental Health Line – 1800 648 911

Department of Health and Aged Care

National mental health services (this directory is translated into key languages) 

healthdirect

Department of Education

Support in times of crisis  

Strengthening harmony and building resilience in school communities

Information about Anti-Racism Contact Officers and resources to support their role  

National mental health services (this directory is translated into key languages) 

Witness to War

Witness to War is a free, confidential multilingual telephone hotline for people in Australia affected by overseas conflicts.

Call 1800 845 198 Monday to Friday, 10am to 7pm.

Witness to War staff can talk to you in Arabic, Hebrew, Dari, Ukrainian, English and in other languages with an interpreter.

NSW Police Force

If you or your follow community members ever feel unsafe or threatened, call 000 if it is an emergency, call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444, or contact your local Police Area Command

How to report hate crimes

Anti-Discrimination NSW

Online incident reporting

Other avenues of assistance

Contact your local doctor/GP. 

Community members from refugee backgrounds who need mental health support can be referred to the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Services (NSW STARTTS). Phone  9646 6800.

Information for people impacted by distressing events

It is normal to have strong emotional and/or physical reactions following a distressing event, including crises like those now being experienced in Gaza and Israel. These reactions may be experienced if you were directly or indirectly exposed.

Almost everyone who experiences a distressing event will be emotionally affected, but not everyone will respond in the same way.

Possible reactions to traumatic events include:

Feeling stressed, anxious, exhausted or confused
Feeling sad, overwhelmed or angry
Shock, feeling ‘numb’
Uncertainty about the future
Feeling lonely, isolated or withdrawn
Feeling unwell – headaches, difficulty sleeping, eating, weight loss/gain
Resentment or blaming others
Increased substance use
Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

For most, these reactions subside over a few days or weeks.

When to seek help:

If distress lasts longer than one month, it is a good idea to seek the support of a health professional. Talking to your GP about how you are feeling is a good place to start.

Only some people who are distressed after a traumatic event will develop a mental illness such as Post Traumatic Distress Disorder (PTSD), Depression or Anxiety.

Self-help strategies:

Find a safe place to stay
Talk to someone you trust
Know that how you are feeling is normal result of a traumatic event
Give yourself time, know that the way you are feeling will not last
Make time for relaxation
Exercise and eat regular, well-balanced meals
Restrict stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate, soft-drinks and cigarettes
Avoid drugs and alcohol
Try to get back to your normal routine as soon as possible

Supporting someone you know:

Don’t pressure the person into talking
Be a good listener
Be patient
Provide practical support e.g. offer to watch children, pets, do the weekly shopping
Encourage the person to take care of themselves and do things they enjoy
Take care of yourself

16 November 2023

The Transcultural Mental Health Line, 1800 648 911, is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.

The telephone service is available to support people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities get the help they need, with a specialist team of healthcare professionals who speak their language and understand their mental health concern from shared cultural perspectives.

The service provides brief over-the-phone and telehealth support for callers, including in-language information and support for carers and family members of a person with a mental health concern.

Resources are available in 42 languages.

It also provides information for callers on how to access mental healthcare and will be able to connect them with relevant services and community support.

01 November 2023

Seven South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN) staff attended the Dine for Mind Gala Dinner at the Emporium Function Centre, Bankstown, on Friday, 20 October.

NSW Governor Margaret Beazley also attended the event as a special guest.

The Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA) organised and hosted the event alongside their NSW Multicultural Attachés and Ambassadors.

The evening featured delicious food, inspiring stories, multicultural entertainment and dancing, all aimed at actively contributing to expanding the support services in our community.

Devendra Sapkota, SWSPHN’s Mental Health Service Navigator, MC’d the event in his role as an NSW Multicultural Ambassador for the MHFA.

The evening also included an auction and raffle, with all proceeds going to the MHFA’s Small Grants Program NSW for disbursement to community mental health support and services in NSW.

Find out more about Mental Health Foundation Australia

SWSPHN staff with NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.

Devendra Sapkota, NSW Multicultural Ambassador for the MHFA.

The Mental Health Foundation Australia and NSW Multicultural Attachés and Ambassadors.

24 July 2023

Resources available in six languages to encourage and prompt older people and their loved ones to think and talk about planning for later life.

The Australian Human Rights Commission is undertaking a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of planning ahead for later life.

Future planning empowers older people to have choice and control over their senior years and provides peace of mind for them and their loved ones.

It involves thinking and talking to those you trust about your future healthcare, financial and lifestyle choices.

A suite of resources is available in English, Mandarin, Italian, Vietnamese, Greek and Arabic to encourage and prompt older people and their loved ones to think and talk about planning for later life.

Visit this Australian Human Rights Commission webpage to find:

Social media assets
Community videos
Conversation guides
Frequently asked questions
Radio ads

26 June 2023

Arabic speaking GPs are being sought to champion the Arabic-speaking breast screening community engagement initiative.

The initiative is addressing the low breast cancer screening rates among Arabic-speaking women in South Western Sydney.

BreastScreen South Western Sydney, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Cancer Institute NSW and other key agencies and organisations, including SWSPHN, have partnered to develop an Arabic-speaking Breast Screening Community Engagement Plan.

Through culturally appropriate education and activities, the plan aims to improve breast screening participation rates and address barriers to screening for eligible women.

The project team is targeting the Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs which have the highest numbers of women not undertaking breast screening, but is also engaging across the region.

If you would like to champion this project or have any questions, please contact SWSPHN Priority Populations Program Advisor Rachael Taylor via email at Rachael.Taylor@swsphn.com.au

01 June 2023

You’re invited to an online forum on Tuesday, 20 June which focuses on Engaging Effectively with Refugee Communities.

The forum will be presented by NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service in partnership with NSW Refugee Health Service and Settlement Services International, and supported by NSW Ministry of Health.

Find out more / register

General Practice Forms

Topic: CALD and refugee