Consultation paper—Developing a Queensland Health Multicultural Health Action Plan

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Background

Queensland is a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) state. More than one in five Queensland residents were born overseas (22.7%), and more than 300 languages are spoken in Queensland. People from CALD backgrounds often experience poorer health outcomes as a result of language and cultural barriers, low health literacy, difficulties in navigating the health system, socio-economic barriers and discrimination (Exploring the health of CALD populations in Queensland Data Report (PDF 909 kB)).

The new 10-year vision for Queensland’s Health System Health Q32 will guide reform to improve access, equity and quality for people from CALD backgrounds.

Scope

A new Multicultural Health Action Plan will build on Health Q32 and the Refugee Health and Wellbeing Policy and Action Plan 2022-2027 (PDF 4589 kB) to guide Queensland Health and Hospital and Health Services (HHS) to improve outcomes for migrant, refugee, faith-based and CALD communities.

Of particular interest will be those communities identified in the CALD Data Report as experiencing greater health disparities. Actions will also address health needs for priority populations such as women, children (early childhood) people who identify as LGBTIQ+ and service interfaces such as disability and the NDIS, mental health and settlement services.

Priority areas

1. Culturally safe and responsive public health services

The action plan will prioritise clinical and cultural safety for CALD patients. Actions will focus on reducing access barriers to mainstream services, and improving cultural capability of health, mental health and digital health services. This includes protecting the rights of patients to access health services without discrimination, in particular for language requirements, cultural practice and religious observance, through operational policies and procedures. We are interested in bringing CALD-specialist services closer to the community.

What we are doing:

  • Implementing best practice clinical guides for patients from migrant and refugee background, our Multicultural Mental Health Framework, and Spiritual Care Guideline.
  • Implementing mechanisms for increased CALD patient safety, including for Ryan’s Rule.

2. Empowering communities and reciprocal engagement

Queensland Health recognises the need for continuous engagement and codesign with CALD communities. This includes mechanisms for customer feedback for clinical services and co-design of policy and program development. Engagement will also support health promotion and empowering community leaders to lead activities within their communities.

Community groups we are engaging with:

3. Service planning and partnerships

Queensland Health is looking to ensure equitable service planning within HHS and funding for non-government community services align with community need. This will improve culturally tailored service offerings for CALD patients and appropriate resourcing for community programs across health literacy, care coordination and preventative health. We will ensure collaboration with Primary Health Networks and Commonwealth health services.

What we are doing:

  • reviewing Queensland Health Refugee Health Services
  • providing funding FY23-24 for the Mater M-CHooSE as part of Connected Community Pathways
  • collaborating with the settlement and refugee health sector through the Refugee Health and Wellbeing Roundtable Series 2023.

4. Queensland Health workforce development

Building and strengthening a diverse and capable health workforce at all levels of the health system, which is representative of the Queensland community, is critical in delivering inclusive and culturally responsive services. The Queensland Government’s Inclusion and diversity strategy 2021–2025 aims to enhance safety, respect and inclusion in Queensland Government workplaces for every person, especially groups in our community who may be under-represented in the workforce including people from CALD backgrounds.

What we are doing:

  • promoting a culturally diverse and capable workforce
  • committing to diversity targets for Queensland Health boards
  • implementing the staff language badge program statewide.

5. Improving data and information

Queensland Health recognises the importance of improving the availability of quality CALD population health data. Understanding where disparities and inequities exist is essential for evidence-based policy, planning, resource allocation, and delivery of equitable and culturally responsive health services. Enhanced communication and data sharing across Queensland Health and between HHS promotes collaboration and reduces duplication of services.

What we are doing:

  • Promoting a minimum data set for multicultural health, collecting information on:
    • country of birth
    • preferred language, and
    • whether an interpreter service is required.
  • Building on the recent CALD Data Report to improve understanding of disparities in health and mental health outcomes for CALD communities.
  • Advocating for a nationally consistent approach to measuring and analysing health outcomes for CALD populations to enable comparison across jurisdictions and support further research, in line with the National Health Reform Agreement Long-term Health Reforms Roadmap reform priority ‘Enhance Health Data’.

6. Delivering high quality language services

Queensland Health is responsible for the whole-of-government Standing Offer Arrangement (SOA) for Language Services (HSQ81638) and ensuring patients have access to quality language services at Queensland Hospital and Health Services.

What we are doing:

  • establishing the Multicultural Health and Language Services team within the Department of Health
  • reviewing and implementing a revised language services arrangement to enable high-quality language services, reduce systemic barriers and improve flexibility
  • supporting workforce specialisation through the Interpreter Boost Program

Have your say

Thank you for taking the time to contribute to the development of the Multicultural Health Action Plan.

Organisations are invited to provide submissions responding to this consultation paper by emailing Multicultural@health.qld.gov.au, please include any policy submissions, case studies, evaluations and other documented learnings.

Submissions close Friday 14 July 2023.

In responding to the consultation paper, please consider:

  • How could Queensland Health improve on the priority areas identified?
  • Are there opportunities for collaboration with your organisation on initiatives or programs for CALD communities?
  • Do you support the priority areas identified? Are there other priorities that should be included?
  • What other actions would you like to see included in the plan?
  • What should Queensland Health prioritise for implementation within the next four years?

You do not need to respond to all of the priority areas identified in this paper.

If your organisation would like to meet directly with the Multicultural Health and Language Services team, please email Multicultural@health.qld.gov.au. Meetings are subject to team availability.

For more information visit Multicultural Health Action Plan.

Last updated: 28 June 2023