In South Western Sydney, the community's diversity brings unique healthcare challenges. With a population more likely to be born overseas or speak another language than English, there's a noticeable impact on healthcare access and equity. Lower health literacy and English proficiency contribute to barriers in effective healthcare communication and service utilisation, particularly in areas like chronic disease management and preventative health education.
SWSPHN is committed to bridging these gaps through initiatives aimed at improving care access, enhancing health literacy, and ensuring culturally safe services. By focusing on the specific needs of CALD and refugee groups, SWSPHN strives to deliver more equitable healthcare outcomes for all residents in South Western Sydney.
Key definitions
CALD/Other Permanent migrants
Communities with diverse languages, ethnic backgrounds and nationalities, traditions, societal structures, and religions.
Refugee/Humanitarian entrants
Any person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country.
An overview of the culturally diverse population of South Western Sydney
- An individual in South Western Sydney is 2.6 times more likely to speak a language other than English, and 1.6 times more likely to be born in a country other than Australia when compared to rest of the NSW population
- Almost half of the South Western Sydney population was born overseas (42%)
- People in Fairfield are most likely to speak a language other than English at home and be born in a country other than Australia, followed by Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Camden, Wingecarribee and Wollondilly
Health access and equity impacts for CALD communities
Westernised health systems which do not account for culture and language can have a profound negative influence on a person’s health, health seeking behaviours and access to health care.
Health literacy
People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD) have significantly lower levels of health literacy compared with the general population (ABS, 2009).
English proficiency
In South Western Sydney 9.9% of our population of population identified they speak English ‘not well or not at all’ this is more than double the state average (4.5%).
Reported healthcare challenges for CALD communities
Recent findings highlight the unique healthcare challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations in comparison to English-speaking groups. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, CALD communities report significant disparities in their healthcare experience, which affects their overall health outcomes. These disparities include:
- lower levels of agreement in feeling understood and supported by health providers
- not having sufficient information to manage their health
- not receiving enough social support to manage their health
- being less likely to have a regular GP
- being less aware of after-hours GP services and more likely to go to a hospotial emergency department when they need after-hours medical care
These issues are compounded by lower English proficiency and health literacy within CALD populations, contributing to a lower quality of care, inappropriate use of primary care services, and difficulties in understanding and using health information. Addressing these challenges is a priority for SWSPHN, which is actively developing projects and activities to improve healthcare access and outcomes for CALD communities.
For more insights into the healthcare experiences of CALD communities, visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.
CALD populations compared to English speakers tend to report
Priority health needs
Chronic disease burden
In South Western Sydney, CALD and refugee groups are attributed with 55% of the chronic disease burden.
- Diabetes: The most prevalent condition, affecting 6% of the population.
- Arthritis: Also impacting 6%, tying with diabetes for prevalence.
- Asthma: Affects 4% of the community.
- Mental health conditions: Also present in 4% of the population.
Sources:
Health: Census, 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au)
Chronic health conditions among culturally and linguistically diverse Australians, 2021, Country of birth - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au)
Sexual and reproductive health issues
Sexual and reproductive health encompasses a broad spectrum of health issues related to reproductive autonomy and sexual well-being. CALD and refugee groups have poor health outcomes related to
- gestational diabetes (GDM)
- rate of still births
- perinatal mental health issues
- exposure to female genital mutilation
- lower rates of sexually transmitted disease screening
- contraceptive use
Source:
M.C.W.A data report: Sexual and Reproductive Health 2021
Infectious disease
CALD and refugee groups are at an increased risk of:
- tuberculosis
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- hepatitis B (HBV)
- hepatitis C (HCV)
- COVID-19
Source:
• Khatri Resham., A.Y., Access to health services among culturally and linguistically diverse populations in the Australian universal health care system. British Medical Journal, 2022.
• DISEASES, A.S.F.I. and A.R.H.N.O. AUSTRALIA, Recommendations for comprehensive post-arrival health assessment for people from Refugee like backgrounds. 2015.
• Service, M.H.a.H. Hepatitis B statistics. 2022
• (ABS), A.B.o.S. COVID-19 Mortality in Australia: Deaths registered until 31 March 2022. 2022
Service needs for CALD communities
CALD and refugee groups within South Western Sydney require improved access to:
- Preventative health care including health education
- General practice
- Allied health
- Vaccination
- Cancer screening
- Dental care
- Mental health services
- Sexual and reproductive health services
- Infectious disease screening
Barriers to healthcare
CALD and refugee groups within South Western Sydney report to experiencing the following barriers:
| CALD | Refugee |
|---|---|
| Lack of information delivered in community languages by partnering with multicultural and refugee health services and use interpreters or trained bilingual community educators | Lack of access to preventative health education and programs for refugees |
| Lack of access to preventative health education and programs for refugees, GPs could fill this gap | Need for consideration of mental health issues with newly arrived refugees |
| Lack of information available to bilingual GPs about available services | Lack of continuity in the health care of refugees after an initial health assessment |
| Lack of translated information in GP’s first language to be given to their clients | GPs needs to provide universal refugee specific health assessments and an ongoing car |
| Low uptake of interpreter services among GPs and lack of bilingual service provider | Training to GPs around refugee health care |
| Lack of flexibility in programs to include minority languages or develop special targeted interventions | Limited utilisation of interpreter services in general practice (Doctors Priority Line). |
What we do
Visit the CALD and refugee health page to read what South Western Sydney PHN do to improve the health outcomes.