Showcasing the rich diversity of NSW Health |
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Did you know that more than a quarter of the NSW population was born overseas? The communities we serve and the colleagues we work beside feature enormous cultural and linguistic diversity. But if you then take into consideration other aspects – such our staff’s differing skills, abilities, backgrounds, and professional or lived experiences – the richness of our diversity and the many benefits it offers is quite staggering. Simultaneously, we also all share many things in common – including our goal to provide the best possible care to the people of NSW that is personalised, compassionate, and culturally safe. |
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We are also committed to making NSW Health an even more respectful workplace. This includes championing diversity, inclusion, ensuring NSW Health welcomes everyone, and our people can confidently bring their whole self to work.
Our diversity and commitment to inclusion is something to celebrate and relish. This edition features stories that highlight our diversity, and how people use their perspectives and experiences to enrich their work, their communities, and support people in our care. |
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I am also pleased to announce that we are expanding the NSW Health Awards by adding a new category – the Excellence in Multicultural Healthcare Award. It will focus on the development and delivery of safe, high-quality, culturally responsive and accessible health services for people from multicultural backgrounds. Stay tuned for more information.
Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of attending the First 2000 Days 2024 Symposium. It was great to see people from across the system and learn about the innovative and collaborative ways we support our youngest patients and their families. You can learn more about the First 2000 Days on the NSW Health website.
Like many of you I am passionate about sustainability. So I was excited to see our progress on NSW Health's first Net Zero Roadmap. The roadmap will serve as a blueprint for how we will achieve our net zero targets. You can get involved by joining consultation sessions and completing the survey. More information is below.
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| Susan Pearce at the
First 2000 Days 2024 Symposium |
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Lastly, I’d like to extend my well wishes to everyone who is observing Ramadan. May you all have a blessed Ramadan. |
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Kind regards,
Susan Pearce AM
Secretary, NSW Health
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Social work supports refugees |
Ibrahim Almurad came to Australia from Iraq more than four years ago. He settled on the Coffs Coast with his family, which included his two little boys - both of whom needed a high level of medical support. |
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Interpreter Khider Ali, Kylie Piper, and Ibrahim Almurad |
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That’s when he was introduced to social worker Kylie Piper and the staff at the Refugee and Multicultural Clinic at Coffs Harbour Health Campus. Ever since then, they have helped him navigate the ins and outs of his children's health needs. “I love coming to work and helping people,” said Kylie. This diverse team of clinicians and specialists support people at the Mid North Coast Local Health District who have relocated to Australia following traumatic life experiences. |
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| “It is very rewarding working with families such as Ibrahim’s to ensure they are supported,” said Kylie.
Tuesday was World Social Work Day (19 March), an occasion to celebrate our social workers like Kylie. “I try to make sure that people are not falling through the cracks. It might be as simple as helping them make an appointment for the dentist or filling out a form to go to hospital for a procedure. “Every day is different in my role, but sometimes it’s the little things that we do that make all the difference,” she said. |
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Collaborating to Close the Gap |
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For proud Wailwan-Wiradjuri-Darug woman Mandy Debenham, Closing the Gap means changing our ways of thinking, building strong foundations and partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. |
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Mandy is the Associate Director of Aboriginal Health at NSW Ambulance.
“National Close the Gap Day (21 March) signifies the government's recognition of the need to include Aboriginal people in their own decision making and have a voice in what matters to them,” said Mandy.
“It’s an opportunity for us to commit to improving outcomes for Aboriginal people, and to recognise that we need to do better. It’s also about reflecting on the work that has already been done through advocacy, resilience and strong leadership.”
Mandy joined NSW Ambulance in February this year. She spent the past two decades working in nursing in Western NSW Local Health District, including eight years leading projects to improve care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. |
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Collaborating with the community is a key aspect of Mandy's role.
“I want to ensure that the care we deliver to Aboriginal people is free from unconscious bias, is culturally safe and responsive, and our workforce can deliver safe care through education and harm prevention.” she said.
“This means listening, consulting and always learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.” |
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Giving a voice to patients and clinicians |
Whether it’s in an emergency department, at the hospital bedside, or during a home visit, being able to communicate is crucial in a health setting. |
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That’s why the work of interpreters is invaluable. Trish Owen is manager of the Hunter New England Health Care Interpreter Service. “I am passionate about making sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to get information so that they can make informed decisions,” she said.
The use of interpreters is mandatory in all essential healthcare communication for people who are not fluent in English, or who communicate through Auslan.
Trish has been in her role for two years. She has spent more than 16 years working with migrants and refugees in Newcastle, a community that is showing a strong demand for interpretation services. “The population is very diverse and we don’t want language to be a barrier for anyone,” said Trish. |
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Interpreters also give a voice to clinicians, she said, helping them to feel confident that their message is received.
"It makes me feel fulfilled knowing that we help to make a difference in people’s lives – supporting people to get information about their healthcare and be a part of the conversation,” she said. |
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Help us achieve net zero at NSW Health |
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NSW Health is developing its first Net Zero Roadmap, which will serve as a blueprint for how we will achieve our net zero targets. You can help us shape this roadmap and inform the steps to reach our net zero targets. There are two ways you can get involved: - Join the virtual staff consultation sessions from 16 April 2024 to 30 May 2024
- Complete the survey before 31 May 2024
Your feedback will give us valuable insight to ensure the Net Zero Roadmap meets our needs and reflects staff and community priorities.
Contact the Climate Risk and Net Zero Unit or visit the NSW Health website for more information. View Deputy Secretary Matthew Daly’s video inviting staff to be part of this milestone roadmap:
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Ramadan Kareem | Meet Sarah |
Ramadan is one of the most sacred months of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims around the world engage in prayer, fasting, reflection and charity for one month. This year, Ramadan takes place from 10 March to 9 April.
Sarah Al-Baghdadi, Arabic Health Promotion Officer at the Multicultural Health Team, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, is one of the many NSW Health staff observing this sacred month.
Watch the video to learn more about Ramadan and find out what this time of the year means to Sarah. |
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A Conversation in Human Experience
Join authors Carly-Jay Metcalfe and Dr Ben Bravery for a Conversation in Human Experience on Thursday 28 March at 10am.
Carly-Jay will share her experiences navigating the health system as someone who survived a double lung transplant and faced a rare cancer.
Download the calendar appointment or contact the Experience Team if you'd like to receive a calendar invite.
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| Value based healthcare webinar
Register now to attend the latest value based healthcare webinar – A journey toward value based care, getting started and early lessons. In this session, you will hear about how the Centre for Oral Health is implementing a value based healthcare approach to their services.
Book your place now to join this event on Tuesday 26 March from 11am to 12pm. |
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Finding home at NSW Health Pathology |
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Asraa Al Saadi struggled for years to find work after moving to Australia from Romania. In late 2023, she attended an employment forum at Blacktown aimed at jobseekers from migrant and refugee backgrounds, where she met staff from NSW Health Pathology. |
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| “All I can say is that a miracle happened to me that day,” said Asraa.
“The team was very supportive and helpful in the recruitment process. I was more confident thanks to their help, which allowed me to perform in my interview.”
Asraa was the successful candidate for a technical assistant/pathology collector (phlebotomist) role at NSW Health Pathology’s laboratory at Westmead Hospital.
“I have always dreamed of working at Westmead Hospital because of my love for the medical field and the proximity to my home – but the fact that it came true is unbelievable.
“I’m working towards my goals of making my kids proud of me – my dreams have really become a reality,” she said.
Asraa is finishing her pathology collector training while working in the outpatient department. She’ll soon join the rotating collections roster at Auburn, Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospital collection centres.
Read more about Asraa on the NSW Health Pathology website. |
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Grandfather of 11, Yalda Kiyo is delighted he has the opportunity to “give back to the country which has given me so much’’ as a volunteer with the Natural Helpers Mentoring Program. |
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“When I came to this country from Syria, it supported me a lot. Now I am doing something for my country to give back and show my appreciation,’’ he said.
The Natural Helpers Mentoring Program is an initiative of South Western Sydney Local Health District’s Multicultural Services.
It trains mentors from Arabic, Assyrian, Vietnamese and Pasifika backgrounds with lived experience of the health system to support patients from their own culture while they are receiving care.
After recovering from heart surgery, Yalda has been supporting patients from the Assyrian culture who may be experiencing similar health issues.
“I love to give and I feel better when I am giving. I speak to the patients who may not speak English so they understand what is happening to them and help them to recover,’’ he said.
Dr Bernadette Brady, Physiotherapy Clinical Researcher and research lead for the program, said the Natural Helpers volunteers were a valuable part of the healthcare team. |
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“Our Natural Helpers listen to patients and support them. They make a fantastic contribution to our care,’’ she said. To volunteer as a Natural Helper, contact the project team on 02 8738 8199. |
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Patients treated with respect and dignity |
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“The best part of the care I received while at hospital was the quality and professionalism of the doctors, nurses, and staff.”
That’s just one example of the large amount of positive feedback linguistically diverse patients have provided about their care in NSW public hospitals.
The Bureau of Health Information surveyed more than 22,000 patients who mainly speak a language other than English at home about their experiences of hospital care between 2017 and 2022. The latest Insights Series report shows that their experiences have improved over time.
For example, in 2022, 87 per cent of linguistically diverse patients said they were ‘always’ treated with respect and dignity, compared with 83 per cent in 2017. Read the report here. |
| Between 2017 and 2022, overall ratings of hospital care improved for people who mainly speak a language other than English at home. |
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Bringing heart to multicultural health |
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Dipti Zachariah believes that quality care relies on a respectful connection between patient and clinician. |
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| “In health, it's about the head and the heart. You can't just focus on the logic of the situation, you've got to bring compassion and empathy,” she said.
Dipti is the team leader for Statewide and Specialist Programs for Multicultural Health at Western Sydney Local Health District, where almost half of the population is from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background.
She leads programs to improve health outcomes for these communities, aiming to make everything from cancer screening and vaccinations, to services and inpatient care more accessible. Dipti was recently involved in supporting a new project educating clinicians on providing culturally safe care.
The Health Education and Training Institute’s ‘Culturally responsive health care’ module on My Health Learning aims to help staff recognise the unique healthcare needs of people from CALD backgrounds, identify culturally responsive strategies and communicate effectively. |
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“As health staff, we must build trust,” she said.
“It can be daunting – you can't be an expert in 50 countries and 25 languages, but you can be authentic, curious and vulnerable, and that is the first step to connecting. “When you're skilled to connect as equal partners, what you reap is huge.” |
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Interactive dashboard of NSW’s multicultural communities
The Cancer Institute NSW recently launched the Multicultural Demographic Data Explorer.
The new interactive digital dashboard provides a clear picture of people’s birthplace, ancestry, language spoken at home, and indigenous status. The data is broken down to local health district, local government and suburb levels. Using 2021 Census data, the dashboard will support health professionals to plan activities that aim to improve health outcomes for the culturally and linguistically diverse communities in NSW. For more information or feedback, email cinsw-multicultural@health.nsw.gov.au. |
| From the Critical Intelligence Unit
The Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Evidence Digest highlights transformative clinical innovations. Recent features include: - Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy, AI to predict ovarian cancer and a ‘sponge-on-a-string test’ as an alternative to endoscopy for patients with reflux
- Admission avoidance hospital at home, implementation of an enhanced recovery protocol for colorectal cancer and NICE guidance for uterine cancer
Subscribe for Wednesday morning updates or explore the CIU's living evidence table on AI in healthcare. |
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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and work and pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We also acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff working with the NSW Government. |
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