Northern Health has partnered with The Water Well Project to improve health literacy and access to health information for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
The first collaborative session was held on 4 August with the Arabic Senior Citizens Group in Epping, bringing together 26 community members for an informative and interactive session about navigating Australia’s healthcare system and managing key health conditions.
The session began with an overview of Australia’s healthcare system, delivered in Arabic by Nisreen Awad, Chair of Northern Health’s Refugee and Asylum Seeker Subcommittee.
Participants learned about Medicare, how to access GP and hospital services, the Virtual Emergency Department (VED) and Urgent Care Clinics.
This was followed by a Diabetes and Heart Health session delivered by Mahisha Lim, Health Educator (Pharmacist) and Volunteer Engagement Lead at The Water Well Project, with Arabic interpretation.
The session covered heart attacks and stroke, including warning signs and the importance of seeking timely medical care. Participants also learned about diabetes, treatment options, and practical strategies for prevention and management.
Mahisha said the session highlighted the importance of creating culturally safe spaces where people feel comfortable asking questions and accessing health information.
“The participants were incredibly engaged and eager to learn how to improve their overall well-being and prevent heart conditions and diabetes. They brought a wide range of insightful questions, covering everything from the foods they eat to how their medications work, and even how stress and trauma impact physical health. Having an interpreter present made a tremendous difference, allowing the participants to feel completely comfortable, understood and fully included in the space.”
“Sessions like these remind me just how important health promotion is. When we create culturally safe spaces to openly discuss health, we empower communities and help improve health equity,” she added.
The partnership also has a special connection to The Water Well Project’s beginnings.
Dr Linny Kimly Phuong, Founder and Board Director of The Water Well Project and Paediatric Infectious Diseases Physician, said her experience working as an intern doctor in Northern Health’s Emergency Department helped shape the organisation.
“At The Water Well Project, we always feel an immense privilege to be invited to work alongside partner organisations such as Northern Health. Northern Health also holds a special place in the story of The Water Well Project. The idea for our organisation was influenced by my time working as an intern doctor in the Emergency Department at Northern Health, where I saw firsthand how difficult it could be for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to navigate health information and the healthcare system. Those early experiences helped shape what would become The Water Well Project.”
Nisreen said the collaboration was an important way to bring trusted health information directly into the community.
“For refugee and non-English-speaking communities, understanding how to navigate the health system can be a significant barrier to accessing the right care at the right time. Community information sessions like this provide an opportunity to bring trusted health information directly to people in a familiar and culturally safe environment. By improving health literacy and providing information in a language people understand, we can build confidence in navigating health services and help reduce barriers to care.Collaborations between Northern Health and organisations such as The Water Well Project are an important way to reach communities and contribute to greater health equity.”
The successful session demonstrated the value of working alongside community organisations to provide accessible, culturally responsive health information.
By bringing health education directly into community settings and providing information in languages people understand, Northern Health and The Water Well Project are helping community members feel more confident about navigating the healthcare system and making informed decisions about their health.
Northern Health healthcare professionals interested in contributing to future community education sessions are encouraged to get involved.
Clinicians can register their interest in an upcoming New Volunteer Training session through The Water Well Project website.