Submission to National Men’s Health Strategy for 2020 to 2030
FECCA’s submission to the National Men’s Health Strategy 2020-2030 emphasises the unique health challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) men in Australia. Identifying low health literacy, language barriers, and inadequate cultural competency in health services as significant obstacles to equitable healthcare access. The submission calls for targeted initiatives to improve CALD men’s health literacy, including culturally sensitive education campaigns and multilingual resources. FECCA also highlights the need for better mental health support tailored to CALD populations, recommending the creation of CALD-specific services, such as multilingual helplines and culturally adapted mental health assessment tools.
Additionally, the submission stresses the importance of addressing social determinants of health, such as migration-related stress, racism, and economic challenges, which disproportionately impact CALD men’s well-being. FECCA advocates for incorporating bilingual and bicultural workers into healthcare services to enhance accessibility, particularly for elderly CALD men who may experience isolation and underreport medical conditions. The submission underscores the importance of recognising diverse health practices and preferences, including alternative medicines and cultural dietary habits, to promote inclusivity in healthcare and improve health outcomes for CALD men and boys across Australia.
