Submission to National Women’s Health Strategy for 2020 to 2030
FECCA’s submission to the National Women’s Health Strategy 2020-2030 emphasises the unique challenges faced by Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) women in accessing equitable healthcare. It highlights barriers such as low health literacy, language difficulties, cultural stigma, and insufficient cultural competence in health services. FECCA advocates for targeted initiatives, including multilingual health resources, culturally adapted education campaigns, and improved data collection to address health inequities. The submission stresses the importance of recognising the diverse needs of CALD women, including those from refugee backgrounds, older migrants, and intersecting identities such as LGBTIQ individuals and women with disabilities.
FECCA also highlights the need for culturally safe approaches in priority areas like mental health, chronic disease prevention, reproductive health, and family violence. Recommendations include training healthcare professionals in cultural competence, ensuring access to bilingual and bicultural workers, and integrating CALD-specific data into policy design and evaluation. The submission underscores the value of community-driven solutions, involving CALD leaders and groups in co-designing health programs to build trust and improve service delivery. By addressing these systemic gaps, the Strategy can promote inclusivity and improve health outcomes for all women in Australia.
