Australia has one of the most multicultural populations in the world, and a significant proportion of our population does not speak English fluently.

Language barriers and lack of knowledge of the Australian health care system can be quite upsetting and isolating for these people. Cultural differences may also be challenging during treatment.

A number of initiatives have been introduced to address this cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD) including:

• health information translated into community languages,
• interpreting services (including by telephone), and
• culturally specific support services.

The Cancer Council Victoria provides multicultural helplines for the following languages:

• Arabic (03) 9209 0160,
• Cantonese (03) 9209 0161,
• Greek (03) 9209 0162,
• Italian (03) 9209 0163,
• Mandarin (03) 9209 0164,
• Polish (03) 9209 0165,
• Russian (03) 9209 0166,
• Spanish (03) 9209 0167,
• Vietnamese (03) 9209 0168, and
• Other languages (03) 9209 0169

For reliable health information translated into community languages see the Health Translations Directory. This directory links to online multilingual health resources from government departments, peak health bodies, hospitals, community health centres and welfare agencies. You can search by topic, by language, or both.

In the Personal Support category we also mention literature and phone support that is available in different languages.

Multicultural Services is grouped into the following sub-categories:

• Aboriginal support services
• Ethnic support services
• Interpreting services

Aboriginal support services

A range of different health programs and health workers may be available to support and advocate on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These health workers may include Aboriginal Health Workers, Aboriginal Liaison Officers, Aboriginal Health Education Officers and Aboriginal Nurses.

Some specialist services also provide GP and supportive treatment services.

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Ethnic support services

People should always be encouraged to seek support from family and friends. However there may also be a need to seek support from further afield - for people from CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) backgrounds there are community and ethnic support services.

The concept of support may not be familiar to people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Also, it may not be considered appropriate to seek support outside of ones family. It is therefore important to fully understand what value an Ethnic Support Service may offer eg the opportunity to talk to someone who has experienced cancer and is from a similar ethnic background.

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Interpreting services

It is important to raise any potential communication difficulties at the very first consultation with members of your treatment team. Involvement of family members, friends or other unqualified people to assist with interpreting is not wise. For various reasons family/friends may seek to censor or alter information, or their language skills may be inadequate.

It is recommended that an interpreter is sourced through your treatment service whenever langauge difficulties are present.

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