Can Get Health in Canterbury

The Can Get Health in Canterbury (CGHiC) Project is a partnership between the Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) (including the Health Equity Research and Development Unit), Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network (CESPHN), and the University of New South Wales – Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity. CGHiC is a place-based intervention that aims to improve health and reduce inequities for marginalised culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations in the Canterbury region. Equity in health refers to the absence of unfair, unjust, or avoidable differences in health across different groups in the community. 

CGHiC was launched in October 2013. Selection of the (former) Canterbury local government area* was based on research that the Canterbury population has a higher level of risk factors for health inequity. In particular, residents in Canterbury: are at greater risk of premature mortality and higher levels of morbidity than the populations of the other areas of the CESPHN catchment; are more culturally and linguistically diverse with 49% of residents born overseas compared with 32% in Greater Sydney; and have higher levels of socioeconomic disadvantage, with a disproportionately high number of people in Canterbury considered to be among the most disadvantaged in Australia (ABS 2016).

The CGHiC project aims to:
  • improve access to comprehensive primary health care services
  • increase individual and community health literacy
  • identify and work with relevant stakeholders to address at least one social determinant of health.

Current focus

The project has four priority areas: 
  1. Child, family and women’s health
  2. Chronic disease management and prevention
  3. Mental health
  4. Capacity building.
CGHiC works in partnership with four specific communities in Canterbury: Bangladeshi and Arabic speaking communities, Rohingya asylum seekers and refugees and the Chinese community. CGHiC also partners with community organisations and services in Canterbury, such as SLHD services – Health Promotion & Multicultural Health & Child and Family Nursing; Metro Assist (Migrant Resource Centre); Canterbury City Community Centre, Settlement Services International; Canterbury Child and Family Interagency; local schools; Family Planning NSW and, community specific welfare organisations. 

What has been achieved?

CGHiC activities (January 2016–December 2018) have included:

Rohingya community

  • Rohingya Little Local program which included capacity building funding to strengthen social connections through community events.
  • Rohingya oral health assessment and health promotion activity.
  • Canterbury Hospital tour for women to increase knowlege of appropriate use of services.
  • Kids First Aid program for parents of young children to increase home care for childhood illnesses and injuries.
  • Zoo visit to provide positive community activity to decrease psychosocial distress and strengthen community connections.
  • Women's Health Education program covering nutrition and physical activity.​

Bangladeshi community

  • Bangladeshi Women's Circle – group program addressing women’s reproductive health, heart health, children’s development and local services.
  • Domestic violence awareness video (Just Reach Out) – Bangla language video available on YouTube, and a Bangla language poster.
  • Parenting program – Tuning into Kids – delivered in Bangla language.
  • Professional development of Bangladeshi Community Networker​.​

Chinese community

  • Mental Health Promotion in language poster addressing psychosocial distress and support services.

Arabic community

  • Healthy Eating and Physical Activity programs –​ group programs delivered in language.

General

  • Kids Don't Fly community awareness campaign about children falling from apartment/unit windows and balconies.
  • Continuing Professional Development for General Practitioners (Refugee Health), Community Workers (Mental Health in diverse communities), Child and Family Workers (Parenting program).
​Evaluation has been completed on individual activities and the project as a whole, including the Rohingya oral health assessment and health promotion activity, Bangladeshi Women’s Circle programs, and several project-as-a-whole evaluations by external consultants. This feedback has enabled positive changes to improve the direction and impact of CGHiC.

What’s next?

The activities of CGHiC​ continue to be responsive to the current and emerging needs of CALD communities in Canterbury. The choice of activities is informed by local health and social statistics and state and federal health priorities as well as listening and responding to the expressed needs of cultural communities. Proposed activities for 2019 include Rohingya Little Local activities (soccer tournament and community picnic), Mindfulness group program, Canterbury Hospital tour and a training program for General Practitioners in child development in diverse communities. ​

* The area included in this project is now part of the Canterbury-Bankstown Council due to a council merge in 2016.
Current as at: Wednesday 2 June 2021
Contact page owner: Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence