AMHC x SolveSquad
As the diversity of the health space continues to gain traction and growth, the need for collaboration across the sector has never been greater than at this present moment in time.
Even before the pandemic, mental health challenges were a growing cause of concern, and post-COVID-19, this has continued to be the case, even moreso. Which is why having a national platform to address major health challenges and identify pathways forward is crucial.
The Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative (AMHC) is the national voice for the health and wellbeing sector, leading the way and providing a platform for the culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities across the country. As the peak body representing healthcare policy, data and research, as well as equitable care from a cultural perspective, the collaborative works alongside key community stakeholders, providers and point-of-care health professionals to bring about systemic change.
Forming a culture of care around relevant issues and challenges facing multicultural communities, the collaborative seeks to serve and collaborate around deeper causes impacting the wider society from a cultural perspective. Structural racism in the health system can often lead to a failure to be inclusive of the needs of others, and is a key factor underlying inequities and inequalities in health status, access to health care and impacts on the health workforce.
As Executive Director of the AMHC reflected on in her role leading the national peak body,
“In a truly multicultural Australia, our health and social care system is committed to health equity, and works proactively towards sustained improvement in the physical, mental and spiritual health and wellbeing of our multicultural communities...this is the vision that the AHMC works towards.”
Additionally, AMHC has been leading the way in identifying innovative and practical ways to better engage the sector through inclusive events and national gatherings, initiating a centralised knowledge hub with culturally-relevant resources, and also forming community hubs to connect with communities on the ground and facilitate conversations on a local level around multicultural health.
The collaborative continues to provide ways for the cultural community to be involved, through an open membership model and through facilitated forums to drive cultural engagement within the health sector. Members include consumers and carers; health services and wellbeing/social care services; practitioners; and researchers. AMHC also welcomes as affiliates other national health peak organisations.
To join us AHMC in their shared goal to bring about systemic change and improve health outcomes for multicultural populations across the nation, find out more here and join the collaborative.