The Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA) today called on the Government to invest in multicultural health ahead of the budget tomorrow.
Multicultural communities have faced the brunt of health inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some communities found to be 12 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to the general population according to the 'Fault lines' report.
This is a shocking statistic, and we know similar inequities exist across the health system. The Government must take immediate steps to invest in multicultural health to ensure we address barriers to equitable access to health for our communities.
Recently the Multicultural Health Connect line pilot program was prematurely terminated without consultation or any alternative model of health navigation support in place. The service provided in-language telephone support to multicultural communities, providing information about COVID-19 and support to navigate the health system.
"The decision to terminate the pilot is a significant setback for multicultural communities and is a source of deep concern. The timing is also unfortunate as we move into winter", said FECCA Chairperson, Mr. Carlo Carli.
"Our communities continue to face significant challenges in accessing health services and culturally appropriate health information, and the Multicultural Health Connect pilot had the real potential to be vital lifeline for many people."
"FECCA remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for the rights and wellbeing of our communities," said Mr Carli.
"We look forward to tomorrow's budget with significant investment in multicultural health and we will be engaging in constructive dialogue with the government to address the challenges faced by these communities.".
About FECCA
FECCA is the national peak body representing people from multicultural communities and their organisations across Australia. Through the membership of state, territory, and regional councils, we represent over 1,500 community organisations and their members.
