Strengthening Preventive Care for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse People in Australia: The Case for Community Health Worker Programs

ABSTRACT

Australia is a multicultural country with half of its population from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, who experience a disproportionately higher burden of chronic diseases. Yet, people from CALD communities continue to face significant barriers to accessing health and social care services that are essential for effective prevention of chronic diseases. In Australia, prevention is not happening in primary care, with a shortage of workforce and the public health system is underinvested in preventive strategies. In these realities, we highlight that community health workers can play a pivotal role in delivering culturally tailored preventive care in primary care and community settings for CALD communities in Australia.