Cancer Institute NSW: New grants to support refugee communities

More than $430,000 in new funding will support two Cancer Institute NSW led projects aimed at improving cancer care, prevention and support for people from refugee backgrounds across NSW. Awarded under the NSW Health Refugee Health Flexible Fund program, one project will support carers of people from refugee backgrounds affected by cancer, while the other will focus on increasing awareness of lung cancer screening and strengthening smoking cessation efforts.

For people from refugee backgrounds who are often navigating language barriers, unfamiliar health systems and the ongoing impacts of displacement, accessing cancer care and information can be especially challenging.

Identifying and addressing barriers is key to reducing inequities and helping all people to live their healthiest lives possible. This funding will allow the Cancer Institute NSW to work closely with refugee communities and stakeholders to deliver support that better reflects people’s cultural and lived experiences.

Supporting carers from refugee backgrounds

Carers from refugee backgrounds often experience unique challenges when supporting a family member with cancer, including navigating complex health systems, language barriers as well as significant emotional and physical strain.

To help address these challenges, one of the funded projects will implement a new model of care tailored to support carers from refugee backgrounds, with a focus on Arabic, Assyrian, Dari, Dinka, Spanish and Tongan-speaking communities.

The project will also develop a multilingual glossary of key cancer terms to help carers better understand their loved one’s cancer diagnosis and support them to participate in care decisions, as well as assist interpreters to provide clear and consistent communication.

Community representatives and experts in refugee healthcare will be involved every step of the way to help shape how the model of care and the glossary are designed and delivered.

Increasing lung cancer screening and smoking cessation awareness

This newly funded project will focus on increasing awareness of lung cancer risks, lung cancer screening and smoking cessation within Dari, Ezidi, Arabic and Chinese-speaking communities.

Community members, bilingual educators and local organisations will be involved in co-designing resources, ensuring information about lung cancer screening and smoking cessation is culturally appropriate, easy to understand and responsive to community needs. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, lung cancer is among the top five leading causes of death for humanitarian entrants in Australia, for both males and females. Working alongside refugee communities to improve understanding of lung cancer risks, screening and smoking cessation will help support earlier action and improve outcomes.

For more information about the grants please contact Sheetal Challam, Principal Strategic Advisor- Multicultural Program, Cancer Institute NSW, at Sheetal.Challam@health.nsw.gov.au

The Cancer Institute NSW provides cancer information and resources in more than 50 languages. Click here to find out more.

The Cancer Institute NSW would like to acknowledge the following partners for their collaboration on these projects: the NSW Refugee Health Service, Hunter New England Local Health District, Western Sydney Local Health District, Settlement Services International, Lebanese Muslim Association, Ethnic Communities Council of Australia, Benevolent Society’s Carer Gateway team, Transcultural Mental Health Centre, NSW Refugee Health Service, NSW Healthcare Interpreting Services, Sydney Local Health District, as well as the consumers and community members whose lived experiences are shaping these initiatives.

The Cancer Institute NSW leads the strategic direction for cancer control activities across the state. It works in partnership with government, health services, research, primary care and the community, to help shape the way NSW prevents, detects and treats cancer.

With cancer’s burden set to increase exponentially over the coming decades, cancer remains one of the greatest health challenges facing NSW, demanding a coordinated and innovative response.

The Cancer Institute’s vision is to build a future beyond cancer – where more cancers are prevented, people live well beyond treatment and cancer no longer evokes fear and stigma.