Diversity Health & Consumer Participation

Diversity Health
Diversity health is based on a commitment to recognising and responding effectively to every client within their current context.

The aim of the approach is to encourage, support, and educate staff so that they can provide equitable and effective services through active partnerships with clients, carers and communities.

The key to the diversity health approach is the development of a culturally competent organisation and staff who are committed to supporting the construction of a culturally safe environment for clients and staff.

Role of the Diversity Health Coordinator

Assisting with local diversity health policies, strategies, procedures, standards and practices
Managing language services, translations, diversity education and training
Identifying health issues relating to local communities of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, especially youth and the ageing, as well as refugees, new arrivals and groups experiencing low health, socio-economic status, and social isolation
Establishing mechanisms to maintain effective relationships with communities
Organising health promotion projects covering health education and information
Acting as Executive Secretary on the St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney Diversity Health Committee

Need more information?
Diversity Health Coordinator
T 02 8382 3093
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St Vincent’s Hospital’s Consumer Participation and Diversity Health Coordinator is attached to the Quality and Risk Management Unit.

Concerns about your health care?
Here are some websites which may be useful.

Make a complaint or compliment - NSW Health website
Contact your Area Health Service - NSW Health website
Health Care Complaints Commission - website
Private health care complaints - website

Your health care expectations
NSW Health provides comprehensive information on health care expectations - website.

Health care Interpreter Service (HCIS)
Contact the Diversity Health Coordinator
T 02 8382 3093
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Or Social Work Department
T 02 8382 2213

Useful Resources
The Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health care provides links to the former ACSQHC translated publications for 10 tips for safer health care in a number of foreign languages - link to website.

Translations of the 10 Tips for Safer Health Care pamphlet can also be downloaded at the Queensland Health website, for the following languages: Aboriginal peoples, Bosnian, Dutch, Hmong, Laoatian, Samoan, Torres Strait Creole.

Multilingual Appointment Card
This is a free online do-it-yourself resource from the UK. It allows you to print appointment details in English and languages other than English - link to website.

Multicultural Health Information Service
This is a NSW Health website with translated health information and resources which are free to download. You can search by language and topic.

Diversity Health Institute
This website has links to resources and useful websites. The website is part of Western Sydney Area Health Service, funded by NSW Govt.

Diversity Health Institute Clearinghouse
Multilingual health information and resources website - free to download. Part of Western Sydney Area Health Service, funded by NSW Govt.

The above information is sourced from NSW Health and other health related sites. These documents provide the basis for St Vincent’s Hospital policy and approach in embedding consumer participation and diversity health principles.

Downloads
10 tips for a safer health care