Australia’s left-wing Labor government has handed out $11 million in taxpayer funds to a program that gives immigrant women health information and support in their own languages.
Assistant Minister for Women Rebecca White and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Dr Anne Aly this week announced the funding boost for Health in My Language, which works with partner organisations to provide free “culturally safe” services to immigrant and refugee women.
The government has pumped $35 million into the program since it was launched in 2022, and said more than 8,000 people from “migrant and refugee communities” had participated in sessions delivered in more than 30 languages – working out to $4,400 per person.
The ministers provided two case studies of women who said they had benefited from the program, with one claiming a Health in My Language session about women’s health and cancer awareness led to her booking a GP appointment which detected the need for early treatment.
“I was told that addressing the issue early helped prevent more serious complications and possible long-term consequences,” she said.
The other woman said that before starting Health in My Language sessions “I was anxious and overwhelmed whenever I thought about using the healthcare system”.
“I had no idea how to ask for help or navigate the health system… It left me feeling unsure, isolated, and disconnected from taking care of my health. Today, I feel much more comfortable and confident when using health services,” she said.
Dr Aly, an Egyptian Muslim immigrant herself, said language “should never be a barrier” to accessing health information.
“This program ensures migrant and refugee women can receive trusted, culturally appropriate information in a language they understand,” she said.
“By empowering women with knowledge and confidence, the Health in My Language Program is strengthening the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities across Australia.”
Header image: A Health in My Language session (HIML).
