New culturally and linguistically diverse videos, designed for people seeking help for themselves or someone they care about, have won a Multicultural Health Communication award that recognises excellence in working with patients and consumers as partners.
The series of videos explain how and where people can access help when alcohol and other drugs are a problem and are available in Arabic, Burmese, English, Farsi, Karenni, Kirundi, Mandarin and Swahili.
The videos were developed by Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), in partnership with Illawarra Cultural and Linguistically Diverse Local Drug Action Team (CALD LDAT) and St Vincent's Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS). Other partner organisations included NSW Health, Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre (DAMEC) and the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF).
"We believe that everyone should have equitable access to key health services, when and if they need it."
Dianne Woods, Health Education Officer, Alcohol and Drug Service, Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
Dianne Woods says that getting information to communities about what services are available and how to contact them, is essential in making health services more accessible.
Multicultural Health Communication Awards
The
Multicultural Health Communication Awards are held biennially to acknowledge excellence in multilingual health communication across NSW Health and Health-funded non-government organisations (NGOs).
At the ceremony held on Monday 2 September, Dianne Woods, Health Education Officer at Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD; Bertha Quiros, Community Development Officer, Spanish and Latin-American Community Organisation (SALCO); and Hazel Sgouras, Contact Centre Manager, Alcohol and Drug Service at St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, accepted the 'Patients/consumers as partners' category award on behalf of all collaborators.
The 'Patients/consumers as partners' award recognises best practice in the co-design of multilingual health communication with patients and community members.
Watch and share
You can find the 'Where can I get help when alcohol or drugs are a problem?' video in Arabic, Burmese, English, Farsi, Karenni, Kirundi, Mandarin and Swahili in the Your Room resources section under the 'Where can I get help?' campaign.
Additional videos in a further 8 languages (Cantonese, Hazaragi, Assyrian, Chaldean, Nepali, Hindi, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese) are currently in development.
Illawarra CALD Local Drug Action Team (LDAT)
The Illawarra CALD LDAT is a coalition of community members and a unique mix of community and government services, which come together to reduce drug or alcohol related harm. This team build and extend partnerships in their community and use local knowledge to deliver evidence-informed alcohol and other drug harm prevention and minimisation activities that are tailored to the needs of their local area.
For free and confidential advice 24/7 call Family Drug Support on
1300 368 186 or Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) on 1800 250 015. Counsellors are available to provide information, referrals, crisis counselling and support. Or start a
Web Chat with an ADIS counsellor online Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5pm. ADIS can also provide up-to-date information about service availability in your area during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Image: L to R - Dr Kerry Chant PSM, Chief Health Officer, Deputy Secretary Population and Public Health, NSW Health; Hazel Sgouras, Contact Centre Manager, Alcohol and Drug Service, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney; Dianne Woods, Health Education Officer, Alcohol and Drug Service, Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD; Bertha Quiros, Community Development Officer, Spanish and Latin-American Community Organisation (SALCO); and Lisa Woodland, Director, NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS).
