How much do you know about accessing healthcare?

Student Cam Pham joined more than 300 fellow colleagues at the recent Hello Doctor visit at TAFE NSW Granville College, where they had the opportunity to speak with health experts, learn the ins-and-outs of the Australian health system and take part in a free health screening.

Hello Doctor is an outreach service event developed by Western Sydney Local Health District’s (WSLHD) Multicultural Health team, aimed at introducing refugee and migrant communities to doctors and relevant health services.

Having moved to Australia from Vietnam in 2016, Cam has an 18-month-old baby boy and is all too familiar with the challenges of accessing healthcare in a new country.

Studying English at TAFE, Cam has her sights set on a career in Human Resources or Community Services and found the Hello Doctor visit very helpful.

“TAFE has students from many countries, migrants and refugees so this was a very good event,” Cam said.

“It helps students who don’t know who to contact when they are sick or have a problem.”

WSLHD Multicultural Health team leader, Desiree Leone, was delighted with the attendance and enthusiasm of the students.

“The stallholders provided interesting activities and Arabic and Dari speaking interpreters helped students interact with staff,” Deidre said.

“Two Westmead Hospital emergency department specialists gave students tips on how to access health services through general practice, public hospitals and private health services.”

WSLHD HIV and Related Programs Unit health promotion officer, Anju Devkota, said 42 students were screed for HIV and Hepatitis B and more than 40 Arabic Hepatitis B resources were distributed.

“Other activities included a spinning wheel quiz where we awarded people with stress balls, pens, pen cases, calico bags, hand sanitizers, oriental jade fans and sticky notes when they answered some health questions,” Anju said.

A range of WSLHD services participated in the Hello Doctor visit including community nursing, Mental Health, counselling services, Refugee and Youth Health, the Integrated Violence Prevention and Response Service, Sexual Health, Storr Liver Centre, Breastscreen, Transcultural Mental Health and the Multicultural Problem Gambling Service, along with a number of non-government organisations.

For further information about the Hello Doctor program or dates 2020 visit dates, please contact Desiree.Leone@health.nsw.gov.au