Queensland’s CALD COVID response - Let’s get it right in practice

Posted Tuesday 24 December 2024 | Queensland PHNs

GPs and general practice staff are invited to join us for a facilitated hypothetical, exploring the challenges that people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, including refugees and migrant workers, are facing during the pandemic.

With support from the CALD COVID-19 Health Engagement Project (CCHEP), auspice by the Refugee Health Network Queensland, and Queensland Health, we'll follow the COVID journey of a patient from a CALD background.

The hypothetical will address:

• the challenges that face CALD individuals and communities when accessing healthcare, such as language barriers, cultural differences, transport and travel, or health literacy
• how to record immunisation status and claim vaccination payment for non-Medicare card holders
• tools and resources that GPs, nurses, and practice managers can use when treating patients who require translation and interpretation services
• lived experience input from CALD community members to help practices engage more effectively with a broader group of patients
• the unique needs of CALD patients in urban and regional/remote communities.

Facilitator

• Dr Jon Harper, GP Liaison Officer, Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast PHN.

Panellists

• Dr Margaret Kay, General Practitioner and Clinical Lead in Multicultural Health with Brisbane South PHN.
• Meryl Jones, Nurse Unit Manager for the Mater Refugee Health Service.
• Grace Edward (Community Representative), Partnerships and Community Engagement Coordinator for the CALD COVID-19 Health Engagement Project.
• Fabiola Bran, Practice Manager – Inala Primary Care.