Sometimes I get asked what it’s like to work for an organisation tasked with caring for people from virtually every walk of life, and how do we overcome barriers such as communication to ensure that everyone can access much-needed healthcare?
My answer is simple: we welcome people from diverse backgrounds and we’re committed to having a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
This NSW Health statement of commitment is one that I wholeheartedly believe in and I encourage you to take a look at Diversity Inclusion Belonging.
Australia is regarded as a diverse, cohesive and successful multicultural society. In fact, data from the 2016 Census shows that nearly half (49%) of Australians had either been born overseas or one or both parents had. New South Wales is the most popular state for our overseas-born population (34%) to live in.
With these figures in mind, and as the country’s largest healthcare system, NSW Health has an equal responsibility to treat our patients with respect, understanding and compassion, while ensuring that people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds can access safe, high-quality and person-centred healthcare.
To achieve this, we need to ensure our staff are skilled and supported to provide culturally appropriate care and are able to effectively communicate with people who speak a language other than English. Support tools, such as our free CALD Assist communication app, help in improving such interactions, particularly when an interpreter is unavailable.
With more than 25% of the NSW Health workforce made up of people whose first language spoken as a child was not English, there’s no denying that our cultural diversity is certainly one of our great strengths.
Harmony Week presents an important opportunity to not only celebrate Australia’s rich cultural diversity, but that within NSW Health. It’s a reminder to embrace each other’s differences and focus on the many positives that come from working in a culturally diverse organisation.
Phil MinnsDeputy Secretary, People, Culture and Governance | NSW Ministry of Health.
