‘Don’t leave your health to chance’: How WSLHD’s Multicultural Health team is empowering women as health advocates

In celebration of Multicultural Health Week and Women’s Health Week, Western Sydney Local Health District’s (WSLHD) Multicultural Health team are addressing important issues through its Bilingual Community Education (BCE) program.

This program is a key part of the work Multicultural Health Services at WSLHD do, aiming to enhance the health and overall wellbeing of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

“As women let us not leave our health to chance. Women’s health matters – life’s juggles are real. Women are the centre of our communities at Western Sydney and beyond. Let us equip, empower, educate ourselves and others to stay healthy and thrive – take the first step.”

Dipti Zachariah, Multicultural Health Team Leader

By imparting health education in language, the BCE program strives to empower communities and enable them to achieve positive health outcomes.

Anoop Johar, BCE program officer works in collaboration with bilingual community educators.

“We aim to promote good health and wellbeing through visual communication strategies, using educators from the same background, speaking the same language as the participants.”

The BCE program’s primary aim is to empower women from CALD communities by bolstering their health literacy.

The health education sessions equip them with the knowledge and tools needed to access local health services and understand a spectrum of health topics, such as diabetes, cancer screening, women’s health, nutrition, and mental well-being.

The program aims to empower women from CALD communities to take charge of their health and well-being through informed decision-making.

The Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Program is a popular offering, where each session offers insights into nutrition and physical activity.

Julie Nunez, Bilingual Community educator, has successfully conducted multiple programs for the Filipino community in Tagalog.

Some community members, inspired by the program, have even initiated activities like Line Dancing and walking groups.

Furthermore, the Bone UP Osteoporosis Awareness Program, which originated as a partnership with Western Sydney University has now become an integral part of the BCE Program, educating women about osteoporosis, its common risk factors, and techniques for enhancing bone health.

WSLHD’s Multicultural Health’s BCE program addresses the needs of CALD communities, with a particular emphasis on women’s health.

The program through in language, culturally sensitive, health education serves as an avenue for empowering women to take proactive steps towards better health for themselves and their communities.