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Welcome to the Spring edition of Polyglot for 2025. The NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service is excited to share information, events, and other opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of culturally and linguistically diverse communities. 

From 1 to 7 September 2025, Multicultural Health Week celebrated the theme: Healthy ageing – Older people are the heart of the family and community. The Week honoured the contributions of older people from multicultural backgrounds and showcased ways and resources to support them in staying healthy, active, and socially connected.

The Week was launched at the NSW Parliament House by Minister for Health and Minister for Regional Health, the Hon. Ryan Park with key guests including NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM, Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant AO PSM and Chief Executive, Cancer Institute NSW and Chief Cancer Officer Professor Tracey O’Brien AM. The event was attended by over 200 guests from the health sector and multicultural community organisations, including healthcare professionals, community leaders, advocates, and media. Find out more about the launch. 

Multicultural Health Community Ambassadors from Chinese, Arabic, Greek, and Italian speaking communities shared personal stories, setting a great example of healthy ageing and sending clear messages to their communities about:

• Being physically active

• Healthy eating

• Social connection

• Regular medical checks and cancer screening

Youth Ambassadors joined the initiative to show their support and encourage their peers to play their part in supporting healthy ageing. They shared their stories about their actions of supporting their grandparents in living a healthy life. Read their stories.

Community has responded to our calls for showing their support for this year’s Multicultural Health Week. We’re touched by their heart-warming stories that are happening just around us every day. Read their stories.

At the latest Multicultural Media Online Conference moderated by MHCS Deputy Director Jesusa Helaratne, guest speakers NSW Ministry of Health Centre for Population Health Prevention Population Health Policy & Engagement Liz Munn, MHCS Director Lisa Woodland, and Multicultural Health Ambassador representative Amir Salem OAM discussed healthy ageing, highlighting available services and programs for older people from CALD backgrounds. View the recording.

Multicultural Health Week goes beyond the first week of September. The resources about healthy ageing in community languages for multicultural communities covering the following topics will deliver long-term benefits to the older people from multicultural backgrounds:

• Physical activity

• Falls prevention

• Healthy eating

• Bone health

• Bladder and bowel health

• Oral health and eye health

• Cancer screening and prevention

For healthcare professionals who work closely with patients from multicultural backgrounds, there are resources and tools that support them to provide patient centred care. View and download these resources and tools. A recording of a webinar on healthy ageing for healthcare professionals is available.

Thank you to everyone who was involved in Multicultural Health Week 2025 and for helping us spread the important messages of healthy ageing through stories, activities and sharing the resources with your communities. 

The recent Vaping and Shisha Online Forum brought together staff from multicultural community organisations across NSW to explore the latest insights and resources for supporting young people to quit vaping and shisha smoking. Experts discussed the health impacts of vaping and shisha smoking, and introduced the innovative Pave app developed by the Cancer Institute NSW.

The forum, presented by the Equity and Prevention Service, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District in partnership with the Cancer Institute NSW and the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service, highlighted culturally appropriate approaches to prevention and quitting vaping and shisha smoking. View the recording.

Syphilis in Pregnancy - Multilingual Factsheets 

Syphilis is increasing in NSW, especially among women aged 15 to 44. In response, South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) and the NSW Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service have launched a Syphilis in Pregnancy campaign.

Multilingual resources aim to raise awareness, support early testing, and encourage timely treatment. Factsheets are available in 13 languages, including Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, English, Hindi, Fijian, Khmer, Mongolian, Nepali, Samoan, Tongan, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. 

Developed in consultation with community leaders, health experts, and the SWSLHD Syphilis Steering Committee. Share factsheets from the STI Prevention Multilingual Toolkit or order free print copies online.  

29 October 2025: STARTTS 2025 Annual Research Symposium. Join leading researchers, clinicians, and practitioners from STARTTS for evidence-based insights in refugee trauma recovery, mental health, and intervention. Register now.

11 - 12 November 2025: National Multicultural Health and Wellbeing Conference 2025. This year’s conference held in partnership with VIC Health will explore how to improve access to health and wellbeing services for culturally and linguistically diverse communities across Australia. Register now.