The Albanese Government is investing $5.4 million to extend a vital health education program that helps migrant and refugee women access crucial health information in their own language.
The funding will enable the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health to continue delivering the Health in My Language (HiML) program across all states and territories in 2025-2026.
HiML recruits and trains bicultural women’s health educators who conduct sessions in languages spoken by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. These sessions cover key health topics such as sexual and reproductive health, cancer screening, and COVID-19, ensuring the information is both accessible and culturally appropriate.
The program has already helped thousands of women make informed health decisions, and this funding extension will allow it to reach even more communities.
The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health will deliver the program in partnership with:
- True Relationships and Reproductive Health (QLD)
- Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) (NSW)
- Women’s Health Matters (ACT)
- Australian Red Cross (TAS, SA, NT)
- Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services (WA)
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney MP, said removing language and cultural barriers is essential to ensuring all women receive the best healthcare.
“No person or group should feel unsafe, judged, or unwelcome when seeking healthcare. We must make healthcare accessible by ensuring information is available in diverse languages and culturally safe ways.”
Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Julian Hill MP, highlighted the government’s commitment to health equity:
“The great promise of Australian multiculturalism is a fair go – that everyone can access the information and services they need. Since 2022, Health in My Language has empowered thousands of women, and this extension will build on that success.”
The continued funding reaffirms the government’s commitment to providing inclusive healthcare and ensuring migrant and refugee women have the knowledge to make informed health decisions.
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