Page 5342 - Week 13 - Thursday, 29 November 2018

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Further information is available on the ACT Government Services Access Card at: https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/multicultural/services/access_card and https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/app/answers/detail/a_id/1310/~/act-services-access-card

(e) Non-eligible patients presenting for outpatient treatment and/or procedures receive health care as appropriate to their needs, whether or not they have a Medicare card. This policy is fully implemented and embedded into the operations of the ACT’s public health services.

ACT Health—cultural diversity
(Question No 2038)

Mrs Kikkert asked the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, upon notice, on 2 November 2018:

(1) In relation to the engagement of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in the implementation of the ACT health framework in the ACT and given that in section 6.5 of Towards Culturally Appropriate and Inclusive Services: A Co-ordinating Framework for ACT Health 2014–2018, one of the key focus areas for supporting actions was to consider the establishment of “a Multicultural Advisory Committee with membership from CALD organisations/communities to advise on multicultural health issues and implementation of this Framework”, what was the result and the current status of this consideration.

(2) What measures will the ACT Government take to increase CALD participation in service planning and evaluation, as well as other community consultation processes.

(3) In what ways has the ACT Government considered inclusion of people from CALD backgrounds in committees and reference groups.

(4) What steps has the ACT Government taken to ensure that the engagement of CALD communities in targeted or general community consultation processes is consistent with Engaging Canberrans – A guide to community engagement.

(5) What is the current status of the intended development of a communications strategy to inform CALD communities about ACT Health initiatives more broadly on its response to the particular needs of people from CALD and LEP backgrounds.

Ms Fitzharris: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The ACT Health Directorate has established a multicultural advisory committee, the Multicultural Health Reference Group, which meets regularly to improve communication and collaboration between the Directorate and other organisations providing services and/or support to people from CALD backgrounds or with limited English proficiency. Membership is drawn from a range of community representative organisations, including Companion House, Ethnic Disability ACT, Migrant and Refugee Settlement Service, as well as the Capital Health Network, Health Care Consumers’ Association and the Mental Health Consumers’ Network.

The ACT Government through Community Services Directorate has also established the Multicultural Advisory Council (MAC). This Council aims to give members of


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