Call for papers for Diversity in Health 2010
The call for papers for Diversity in Health 2010 is now open!
 We invite researchers, health practitioners, community organisations and migrant and refugee services to submit papers to present at the conference.
What are we looking for? We are after papers that offer a critical, analytical and reflective look at issues of concern or models of good practice. We want to know about innovations in service delivery and new challenges facing service providers.
We want a mix between broad, cross-cutting themes and in-depth specialist topics. As well as research and theory, we are looking for practical wisdom, shared experience and reflection.
While priority will be given to papers that engage with the Diversity in Health themes, we welcome papers on any topic relating to cultural diversity and wellbeing.
You can submit your abstract for consideration via a simple form on our website, and all abstracts will be reviewed by a subcommittee of industry experts.
The call for papers closes on Monday 8 February 2010.
Click here for guidelines on submitting a paper.
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Multiculturalism and the health reform agenda
Diversity in Health coordinator Michal Morris makes the case for considering migrant and refugee needs within the health reforms.
When I think back to when the Rudd government swept into power, I remember the sense of excitement – including within the multicultural sector. Labor hadn't said too much on multiculturalism before the election but I, like many like-minded people, just assumed it was part of the agenda.
While the October 2007 election has instigated a new way of looking at social policy, the legacy of Australia's estrangement with all things multicultural, which began with Howard, has been maintained to date.
Multiculturalism and its values are still not being talked about within the key social justice and health policies being developed. Disadvantage is being discussed; but not the disadvantage that is the result of the barriers of language, culture and migration.
 The Rudd Government has promised change within the health system. It is felt that the balance between commonwealth and state responsibilities are not right, inequities in health are not being addressed and hospital waiting lists are growing. Also, the system is costing a lot of money.
The reforms promised by the Rudd Government are the most radical since the introduction of Medicare in 1974. They will require a whole new level of participation of the individual with the health service system. It is vital that the disadvantage that comes out or the barriers of language, culture and migration are part of the discourse.
Within the goal of creating an agile and self-improving health system, is the strategy of ‘strengthening consumer engagement and voice’. One of the key recommendations for health reform is to build health literacy. Health literacy is an important issue for refugee and migrant communities.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 survey, 60% of Australians are functionally health illiterate. As staggering as this seems, health literacy for those born in a mainly non-English speaking country is even lower. Only 26% of migrants have a health literacy rating that is regarded as sufficient.
Health illiteracy is a clear example of a barrier to participate in one's own health - one of the driving push factors in the health reforms - and it disproportionately affects refugees and migrants. We need to ensure that the disadvantage that comes out of culture, language and migration is addressed, and that the values that underpin multiculturalism are embedded within the new health reforms.
This is an edited extract of a paper presented at the FECCA Conference 2009 on 30 October.
Click here to read the complete paper.
What are your thoughts? Should multiculturalism be named and addressed within social and health policy? What should be done to improve health literacy? Tell us what you think.
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- Cultural integrity in service delivery.
- The right to health.
- Modern multiculturalism.
These themes support discussion on a wide range of topics including aged care, refugee health, sexual health, language services and mental health.
Read about the themes
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Thank you to everyone who completed our survey on key topics for Diversity in Health.
The answers so far show interest in:
- cultural integrity
- modern multiculturalism
- mental health
- health literacy
- health promotion
Here’s what else people want to see:
"Understanding the discourse of violence for cultural minorities and finding a way to explore violence with groups within which it is not spoken about."
"Ideas regarding ways to engage the refugee community and make them feel comfortable accessing health care services."
"Speakers about successful and culturally appropriate programs run in big, busy public hospitals."
Take the survey and tell us what you'd like to hear about.
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