​​​​​This Multicultural Health Week, the Minns Labor Government is encouraging everyone to be active, highlighting the important role physical activity plays in improving mental health and wellbeing.

NSW Health Minister, Ryan Park, officially launched Multicultural Health Week (31 August - 6 September) today and announced this year's theme, 'Improving our mental health and wellbeing through physical activity'.

Keeping active delivers benefits across all stages of life and can raise energy levels, improve our fitness, concentration, self-confidence, mood and sleep. It's also a great way to make and maintain social connections and friendships.

Being physically active can help our mental health and wellbeing. It can help to manage stress, anxiety and depression, as well as lower the risk of some cancers and chronic health conditions.

Some simple steps to being physically active for better mental health include:

• Finding an activity you enjoy, such as tai chi, yoga, or swimming.
• Being physically active with family and friends. Try walking the dog, riding a bike, playing a sport, or dancing together.
• Being physically active in nature. Try walking or kicking a ball in the park, swimming at the beach or at a pool, or gardening.
• Moving throughout your day. Walk to the shops or bus stop, stretch between activities or stand up and move regularly instead of sitting for long periods of time.
• Sleeping well. Try to keep a regular bedtime. Adults should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night. You should also try to reduce noise, heat and light in your bedroom and avoid screens before bedtime.

Adults should do about 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity on most days. This could be a brisk walk, jogging, aquarobics, or playing a sport. It is also recommended that adults aim to do two or more days of muscle strengthening activities per week, such as resistance or weight training. Activities targeting mobility, balance and coordination, are also important and can help keep us mobile, prevent falls and stay independent as we age.

A range of helpful resources have been prepared for Multicultural Health Week 2026, including:

• A promotional video 'Improving our mental health and wellbeing through physical activity' with subtitles in seven languages including English.
• A factsheet in 41 languages.
• A Multicultural Health Week poster and social media assets in 41 languages.
• An event toolkit to help communities organise events at schools, workplaces, or in their local area.

People are also being encouraged to get involved by sharing stories about the positive impact physical activity has had on their mental health and wellbeing.

Visit the Multicultural Health Week webpage and the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) social media channels for more information and resources.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“This Multicultural Health Week provides a valuable opportunity to encourage people to take part in regular physical activity, as an effective and accessible way to support mental health and wellbeing.

“There are clear benefits to regular physical activity and I encourage everyone to make time in their day to move, for themselves, their families and their community.

“By talking about how physical activity can help support mental health and wellbeing this Multicultural Health Week, we are helping improve health outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse communities."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper:

“Multicultural Health Week is an important opportunity to promote better health and wellbeing outcomes across NSW's diverse communities.

“Being physically active can support both physical and mental health, while helping people stay connected within their community.

“I want to ensure people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities have access to health information that is clear, accessible and relevant to their needs."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:

“For many people from culturally diverse backgrounds, mental health can be understood and talked about in very different ways. There can still be stigma around asking for help and very real challenges that come with building a life across cultures, like navigating different expectations, languages and traditions, while trying to maintain a strong sense of identity and belonging.

“That's why it's so important that we make space for different cultural understandings of mental health, and make sure people feel supported in ways that make sense for them, their families and their communities.

“We all lead busy lives and looking after ourselves can too easily fall to the bottom of the list. Being physically active is one simple thing we can all do for our mental health - a chance to reduce stress, connect with others and take some time for ourselves."

Quote attributable to NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM:

“I am delighted to join this year's launch of Multicultural Health Week.

“NSW Health provides a range of programs across the lifespan, such as the Get Healthy Service, to support people to eat well, stay physically active and most importantly, improve their health and wellbeing.

“NSW has so many vibrant, multicultural, communities. We want to ensure the ongoing health of those communities by encouraging physical activity than can help support both your mind and your body."

Quotes attributable to NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO, Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O'Brien AM:

“Physical activity has benefits across every stage of the cancer journey, including helping to manage the side effects of treatment and supporting recovery including mental and physical wellbeing. It also plays an important role in cancer prevention, helping to reduce the risk of developing several types of cancer.

“This Multicultural Health Week, we're proud to help elevate the voices and health needs of our richly diverse NSW community, ensuring more people have access to culturally appropriate information and support to lead healthier lives.

Quotes attributable to NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service Director Lisa Woodland:

“We are proud to partner again this year with NSW Health and Cancer Institute NSW to deliver important health messages that encourage multicultural communities to be physically activity to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

“Our ongoing collaboration with the Prevention Education and Research Unit helps ensure young people are engaged in this important initiative in meaningful and relevant ways."