MEDIA RELEASE: True welcomes Queensland Health’s $17m investment in multicultural health

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True Relationships & Reproductive Health today recognised and applauded Queensland Health’s new Multicultural Health Policy and Action Plan and welcomed the $17 million investment in health services, including sexual health and relationship support services, over the next 5 years.

True’s Culturally Responsive Health Manager, Sarai Tafa, said “The Multicultural Health Policy and Action Plan is the first statewide health policy dedicated to multicultural populations in over a decade. This plan responds directly to community needs and was developed in partnership with Queensland’s diverse multicultural communities.

We are particularly excited about the investment in language services as it aligns with our Health In My Language program (delivered in partnership with the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health) which delivers multilingual education sessions to migrant and refugee communities in 11 languages.”

“When health and wellbeing care and outreach is planned and delivered in a culturally responsive way, we see increased health-seeking behaviours, reduced harms, increased uptake of advice and better health outcomes for all. Queensland is an amazingly diverse state and this plan celebrates and responds to that diversity.”

Alex Clements, True’s Director of Strategic Impact and Development also congratulated Queensland Health on the new plan. “True (formerly Family Planning Queensland) has delivered sexual and reproductive health education, clinical care and counselling in close partnership with Queensland’s multicultural communities for more than 50 years. The Queensland Government’s renewed commitment to ensuring that all Queenslanders can access safe and appropriate care sends an important signal to the diverse communities that we work with across the state. ‘Your health and wellbeing matters and we are committed to delivering it in a way that is culturally responsive’. We look forward to our continued partnership with the Queensland Government in support of all Queenslanders.”