Cultural Support Program
The Cultural Support Program works collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical services across Sydney Local Health District to support the delivery of culturally responsive care.
We enhance community programs by supporting efforts to engage priority culturally and linguistically diverse populations, while also providing valuable feedback to strengthen the health system.
The program comprises of a pool of approximately 120 trained bilingual and bicultural Cultural Support Workers from across 25 language groups. The Cultural Support Workers represent a diversity of communities across the District. They have been recruited based on their work within their communities, language proficiency, knowledge of the Australian health system, and understanding of health beliefs and cultural practices within their communities.
Cultural Support Workers have a broad scope of practice, which includes:
- developing and implementing community engagement initiatives
- delivering information and health education in-language
- reviewing and developing multilingual resources
- supporting research.
Clinical Concierge Program (in-language)
The Clinical Concierge Program provides support to people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities who are affected by HIV. We are also piloting the program for community members diagnosed with hepatitis B.
Who is the program for?
| HIV Clinical Concierge Program | CALD people living with HIV anywhere in NSW. |
| Hepatitis B Clinical Concierge Program (pilot) | People living with chronic hepatitis B who attend Public Liver Clinics in the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD). |
What is covered?
Our clients are matched to a bi-lingual/bi-cultural Cultural Support Worker. The Cultural Support Worker understands the culture and language needs of their clients; the meaning of a diagnosis; and how the health system works in Australia.
Our team works with the client to provide support in:
- understanding information about their health and treatment options
- communicating the clients' needs and concerns with their treatment team
- accessing relevant health and support services, including providing emotional and social support.
Receiving support from support from the Clinical Concierge Program is completely private and confidential, and is available across New South Wales.
How can I sign up?
- For patients
- HIV program – Call 02 9515 1234 or email SLHD-DiversityHub@health.nsw.gov.au
- Hepatitis B program – Ask your nurse at the Public Liver Clinic in SWSLHD.
- For service providers
- Use the e-referral form to refer your patient to either program.
If you prefer to speak in your language, call the free Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450.
*South Western Sydney Local Health District covers Local Government Areas: Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and parts of Canterbury-Bankstown area.
Canterbury Leader Forum
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we established the Canterbury Leaders Forum to specifically address COVID-19 health concerns in the Canterbury area. This forum led to pivotal strategies in the local pandemic response, including the establishment of testing and vaccination clinics at Lakemba Mosque and other community locations.
The forum has continued beyond the pandemic, extending its focus to other priority health issues in the Canterbury area. It is an event where multicultural community leaders meet with Sydney Local Health District senior executives to share information, discuss priority health issues and develop strategies to improve the community’s health.
NSW HIV Roundtable 2023
The first NSW Culturally and Linguistically Diverse HIV Roundtable event was held on 10 August 2023, at Canterbury Hurlstone-Park RSL. The event brought together health professionals, multicultural community leaders and Ministry of Health staff to create a platform for share knowledge and community perspectives, with the goal of improving access to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Attendees heard from speakers from across the state, including Clinical Nurse Consultant Anik Ray from the Sydney Sexual Health Clinic, Medical Director of Sexual Health Services at South Western Sydney Local Health District Dr Chris Carmody, and Dr Rohan Bopage, Infectious Diseases and Sexual Health Physician from Western Sydney Health.
People from culturally and linguistically diverse communities were also able to share their perspectives of HIV and stories of lived experience.
The session ended with a facilitated group discussion, where attendees were able to express views and opinions about current and future health care services.