Cancer support for people of refugee background in Bendigo

Purpose

This two-year project, funded by the Department Health in late 2022, is a joint initiative between LMICS, Bendigo Community Health Service and the Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre. The project aims to improve health equity across the cancer continuum by supporting former refugees to better understand cancer, prevention, early intervention, and optimal care pathways that are culturally safe and easily understood and also support health services in this delivery.

What we are doing

The project is working with Bendigo Karen and Afghan communities and service providers, to identify the enablers, barriers, and myths surrounding cancer, prevention, cancer care, and refugee sensitive practice. We co-designed culturally sensitive focus group schedules and conducted a review of relevant literature. 9 focus groups were held in 2023, involving a total of 128 participants.

Outputs

Preliminary findings from both focus groups and the literature show that challenges to engagement, language, and communication act as barriers for people of refugee background. The complex health systems make it difficult to navigate.

Impacts

In 2023–24, the project will implement a range of improvement initiatives to tackle the various identified challenges for both service users and service providers.

Contact

AprilGerolemou@bendigohealth.org.au