Welcome to the MHCS Summer edition of Polyglot. The NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) team encourages a COVID-safe break for the upcoming holiday season. For updates on COVID safe rules and restrictions on gatherings, visit NSW Health.

For current translations on COVID-19 information from multicultural health services across the sector, visit the NSW Health page or the Multicultural Health Communication Service  MHCS Publications page.

It is with deep sadness that MHCS bids farewell to Michael Camit as he takes up an important role as Health Literacy Manager at South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD).

Michael is a valued colleague and has been with MHCS for 23 years. During that time he has brought dedication and innovation to the role of Marketing and Communication Manager and served as Acting Director for close to two years. Michael has passionately led the team in running health literacy initiatives that combined arts and health strategies.

Michael was part of the pioneering team that drew up the initial plans to disseminate and promote health information among the many culturally and linguistically diverse communities in NSW. He has played an important role in researching multilingual social marketing and has published findings in this area. At MHCS, he conceptualised campaigns that have won national and international multicultural marketing awards.

We wish Michael all the best and look forward to collaborating with him on future programs in his new role at SWSLHD.

The NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service Annual Report 2019-20 is now available online.This report provides a brief summary of the key achievements of the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) in 2019-20.

The COVID-19 pandemic required MHCS to urgently respond to the emerging health information needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. MHCS partnered with NSW Health and Multicultural NSW to provide communication, media and translation support for COVID-19 messaging to CALD communities.

In 2019-20, MHCS held the state-wide launch of Multicultural Health Week and conducted a range of initiatives to build the health literacy of CALD communities in NSW.

NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service’s online Appointment Reminder Translation Tool allows you to translate appointment details into your client's language. Immediate translations are available in 43 languages.

The updated ‘Hearing Service’ appointment type includes Arabic, Burmese and Swahili. Mongolian is now available for 11 appointment types.

The Shisha No Thanks campaign received the CommBank Business Campaign of Year Award at the 2020 NSW Premier's Multicultural Communications Awards (PMCAs).

The campaign is led by South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) in partnership with the Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA), NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS), Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD), Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD), South Eastern Sydney Research Collaboration Hub, University of NSW, and the Multicultural Youth Affairs Network (MYAN NSW).

The Shisha No Thanks Campaign addressed tobacco control in one of the few areas of tobacco use by young people. The campaign was funded through the Cancer Institute of NSW to address the increased use of shisha (waterpipe) smoking among young people.

Haathi in the Room Inc. held a Photovoice Exhibition to mark Mental Health Month in October. The forum was an opportunity to raise awareness around mental health and wellbeing within the community.
 
PhotoVoice participants were trained by Michael Camit and Sam Shen of the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service who provided valuable guidance on the use of Photovoice. The PhotoVoice Project  was funded by Multicultural NSW.

Haathi in the Room’s vision is to start the conversation, and reduce the stigma around mental illness in the South Asian community. Read more about their work here.

How to Wear a Mask – Multilingual Videos

Video guides on how to correctly wear a mask are now available in 34 languages: Tibetan, Punjabi, Mandarin, Korean, Karen, Hindi, English, Bangla, Fijian Hindi, Dinka, Dari, Cantonese, Burmese, Assyrian, Swahili, Turkish, Filipino, Arabic, Gujarati, Nepali, Rohingya, Vietnamese, Amharic, Croatian, French, Greek, Hazaragi, Italian, Khmer, Macedonian, Mongolian, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Urdu, Tamil, Somali, Serbian, Samoan, Russian, Lao, and Hungarian.

COVID-19 and Shisha Smoking

Shisha smoking can increase the risk of contracting COVID-19. COVID-19 awareness resources from the Shisha No Thanks campaign: Arabic video, English video, Arabic animation, English animation, Arabic infographic, English infographic, Arabic social media tile, and English social media tile.

Information about COVID-19 testing clinics   

Everyone with symptoms needs to get tested. Testing at public COVID-19 clinics is free. No Medicare card is required to get tested at a public COVID-19 clinic. Get tested multilingual video. Bilingual factsheets available in 11 languages: Indonesian, Macedonian, Mongolian, Nepali, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese-Traditional, Chinese-Simplified, Thai, and Vietnamese.

Everyone Must Check-in

It’s important everybody checks-in by QR code or pen/paper when dining out. Check-in social media tiles are available in 19 languages: Arabic, Assyrian, Bangla, Dari, Greek, Italian, Korean, Nepali, Farsi, Chinese-Simplified, Spanish, Chinese-Traditional, Thai, Vietnamese, and English.

Feeling unwell? Avoid family gatherings and get tested

Protect your loved ones, if you unwell, avoid family gatherings, and get tested. Social media tiles are now available in 51 language: Arabic, Armenian, Assyrian, Bangla, Burmese, Chinese-Simplified, Chinese-Traditional, Croatian, Dari, Dinka, Farsi, Filipino, French, Greek, Gujarati, Hazaragi, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Karen, Khmer, Kirundi, Korean, Kurdish-Kurmanji, Lao, Macedonian, Maltese, Mongolian, Nepali, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Rohingyan, Russian, Samoan, Serbian, Sinhalese, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil, Thai, Tibetan, Tongan, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, and English.

FAQ: How do I self-isolate? Stay connected online

Self-isolation factsheets are available in 12 languages: Arabic, Assyrian, Bangla, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Farsi, Greek, Italian, Korean, Nepali, Spanish, and English.

Cervical Screening Test is safe at anytime during pregnancy

Translated posters developed by South Eastern Sydney Local Health District promoting the safety of screening during pregnancy was developed for display in GP clinics, maternity services, and other services. Available in 7 languages.

Preparing Little Hands for School

South Western Sydney Local Health District’s Preparing Little Hands for School package contains ideas on how to encourage your child to develop the fine motor skills that they will need to get ready for school. Available in Nepali, Arabic, and English..

Ways to Support Reading Development

Learn about books posters produced by Western NSW Local Health District aims to assist children’s reading development. Available in 8 languages.

Continence Products Brochure

Continence products are used to manage the symptoms of poor bladder and bowel control. This brochure outlines the types of products that are available and what to consider when choosing a continence product. Available in 30 languages..

Bilingual Speech Pathology Flyer

Speech Pathology service flyer with contact information available in Arabic and English for Bankstown, Fairfield and Macarthur areas. Developed by South Western Sydney local health district.

Get help in your language

Esafety Women’s essential advice and information is available for download in 12 different languages to assist people who are experiencing technology-facilitated abuse / online domestic abuse.

December 2020: The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) Workforce Survey is open to nurses with information to be used to advise the government on its 10-year reform agenda for primary health care. Complete survey.

9 December 2020: SSI Artist Voices – Experiences of the pandemic is an online launch for the CALD report on SSI roundtable findings. Register to attend.

10 December 2020: STARTTS will bring insight into the issues and risk Domestic Violence for people from Refugee backgrounds in a webinar. Register to attend.

11 December 2020: Communities of Practice – Organisational Mental Health Literacy Launch by Mental Health Commission of NSW. Register to attend.

2020-2021: Online SSI Culture Ready workshops aim to equip disability service providers with culturally responsive skills. Multiple dates available. Register to attend.

2020-2021: Fee-free TAFE NSW short courses are available online to assist anyone across NSW who wants to upskill during the COVID-19 pandemic. Register to attend.

NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service
Level 3, 349 Crown St. Surry Hills NSW 2010
Website: http://www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/
Email: seslhd-mhcs@health.nsw.gov.au

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