Multicultural Health

People from multicultural backgrounds, particularly non-English speaking backgrounds, face a range of challenges including:

• Low English proficiency
• Adjustment to a new country
• Stresses of migration
• Trauma exposure prior to migration
• Loss of close family bond and sense of community
• Racism and discrimination
• Limited opportunities to fully utilise their occupational skills or lack of prior education recognition
• Ongoing media coverage of world events

People from multicultural backgrounds also often face barriers to accessing and navigating the Australian Health Care System through:

• Unfamiliar health systems
• Lack of interpreter access
• Insufficient support to navigate health service systems
• Low health literacy
• GP and health workforce shortages
• Cost of medical care and fewer medical practices bulk billing
• Limited access to transport

An incentivised approach

Funding has been made available for Multicultural Health Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities this quarter under the Department of Health and Aged Care Multicultural Access Program. Using these funds, we will be able to provide payments to practices undertaking continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities in Multicultural Health.

The payments are for undertaking the CQI activities, tracking and reporting on their progress. The completion payment is not subject to all activities having had a positive outcome (or even the intended outcome).

Payments are for undertaking activities that build a practices capability and enhance patient outcomes or experience. Payment is not available for activities that are required under the RACGP accreditation standards. An example – the initial enrolment in an interpreter service is an accreditation requirement and so is not an appropriate activity for a funded CQI activity. Training of staff in the use of interpreter services, advertising this service and other activities that embed the use of this service into practice processes are considered CQI activities and are eligible for funding.

Practices can submit an EOI to participate in incentivised cancer screening CQI activities.

Step 1. Choose an activity

Practices can choose up to four Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities from the list shown on Table 1 of the multicultural health CQI practice payment guide.  You can also develop practice-specific activities you think will improve the outcomes for your multicultural patient cohort.  The practice development matrix can help you to develop these activities.

Step 2. Submit and expression of interest

To express interest the practice complete Part 1 of the multicultural health CQI plan paperwork and submit this to Brisbane North PHN (practicesupport@brisbanenorthphn.org.au). This document will outline the:

• Multicultural health goals you want to achieve
• Activities you will implement to achieve these goals
• Timelines you are working to
• How you are going to measure your progress.

Step 3. Written agreement between Brisbane North PHN and the practice

Brisbane North PHN will review the expression of interest and inform advise if the application has been successful. We will send you agreement paperwork to sign and return and the practice will submit an invoice to Brisbane North PHN for the initial payment of $250 for payment.

Step 4. Complete the agreed activities

With the support of the Brisbane North PHN primary care team, the practice team will work on the proposed activities between the period of October 2024 to March 2025. To receive the completion payment, complete Part 2 of the multicultural health CQI plan paperwork and submit it to Brisbane North PHN together with an invoice for your completion payment. 

Get Support

For support and guidance on implementing health assessments in your practice, contact our quality improvement and development engagement officers via the Practice Support email and phone line.