Harmony Week 2024: Support for multicultural health
Harmony Week: recognising and celebrating multicultural Australia
This year, Harmony Week runs from Monday 18 to Sunday 24 March. It is a time to celebrate our differences and champion cultural inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all — concepts that align with our goal of putting people at the heart of health care.
Our Brisbane South PHN region is home to over 1.2 million people from many different backgrounds and cultures, with 1 in 3 residents born overseas and 1 in 5 born in a non-English speaking country. Our region also has the highest refugee resettlement rates in Queensland, the largest urban First Nations population, and the largest community of Pasifika and Māori people in Australia.
About our Multicultural Health team
Given our culturally diverse regional profile, Brisbane South PHN provides the local primary health care sector with dedicated support for multicultural health. Our Multicultural Health team is available to support your practice in delivering best practice care for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
We support primary care providers with resources and training around working with interpreters, referral pathways, immunisations, and more. Find more about these services on our website.
Meet our GP Clinical Lead, Dr Margaret Kay
One of our team members is Dr Margaret Kay, a local GP and our Multicultural Health Clinical Lead. A champion of multicultural health, Dr Kay has been working in general practice for over 30 years and has extensive experience in working with culturally and linguistically diverse people, including people of refugee backgrounds.
In 2022, Dr Kay was awarded Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to medicine, medical education, and migrant health.
Part of Dr Kay’s role is to support practices in providing culturally responsive care and becoming ‘refugee health ready’.
Watch the video to learn more about Dr Margaret Kay:
Contact the Multicultural Health team
For in-practice training or for more information, please contact 3864 7580 or multicultural@bsphn.org.au.
More information for GPs
- Find local resources listed on our Multicultural Health pages: www.bsphn.org.au/community-health/commissioning/multicultural-health
- Refer to the new PHN Multicultural Health Framework for best practice guidance
- Read our article: Supporting accessible primary health care for refugees