• Assisting with planning the delivery of your services so that cultural appropriateness and equitable access are integral parts of your core business.
• Helping you identify strategies to promote your service to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
• Where appropriate, assisting in the development of policies for organisational development in partnership with other relevant services.

Consultancy & Advice

• The Area and Cluster teams provide consultancy and advise to Sydney West Area Health Services on the development of services and programs that are accessible and appropriate for people from CALD backgrounds.

Patient/Client Care

• Discussing your concerns about appropriate care for CALD patients and/or clients
• Helping you to access information and resources for CALD patients and/or clients and communities, including country/cultural profiles, translated information, accredited interpreters and relevant external services, such as migrant settlement services, ethno-specific organisations and programs
• Promoting your service via interagencies and community based information sessions.

Project Seeding Grants

• In 2004, the Multicultural Health Eastern Team established an annual seeding grant program for projects that enhance the provision of services to CALD communities and support skills development in the workplace. This program is under review - for further information contact Gordana Kostadinovska.

Education & Training

The Multicultural Health Network (MHN) offers education and training programs to enhance understanding and skills within the SWAHS workforce in providing accessible and culturally competent services to people from CALD backgrounds.

Some staff in the multucltural health network develop, deliver and coordinate a range of education and training programs, some of which are undertaken in partnership with other SWAHS services, other Area health services and State services.

These include:

• inservices
• courses focusing on specific aspects of culture and intercultural communication
• tailor-made programs
• assisting other services in the development and delivery of their education and training programs, including training manuals
• coordinating training programs in partnership with NSW statewide health services (e.g. NSW Refugee Health Service, STARTTS, and the NSW Education Program on Female Genital Mutilation).
• Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement (EAPS) Training

Course Information & Registration

Courses are scheduled throughout the year. Information on courses available through the Learning and Development Unit is available on its intranet pages. Applications should be submitted to the Learning & Development Unit.

The following courses are currently available through the Learning & Development Unit:

• Communicating through the Interpreter
• Delivering culturally competent health care
• Cultural competence in the workplace

* Learning & Development Unit Calender