Multicultural community forum consulted under New Bankstown Hospital project

Proud, family-centred, generous and vibrant were some descriptions of the Bankstown community shared by participants at our recent multicultural consultation session. As part of our planning for the New Bankstown Hospital, we consulted with 14 representatives from ten diverse agencies which are part of the Canterbury Bankstown Multicultural Interagency (CBMIA). 

The CBMIA aims to identify issues, needs and gaps in services, co-ordinate strategies, improve service delivery to culturally and linguistically diverse communities, refugees and humanitarian entrants in the City of Canterbury Bankstown. 

Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital Acting General Manager Jennifer Assaf said that connecting with all parts of our community is essential to the success of the project.

"Bankstown is one of the most diverse communities in Australia and it's important that we reflect the aspirations and experience of multicultural community members in the design of the new hospital," Ms Assaf said. 

"Feedback from the session will help shape the future design of the project, and we will keep our community updated as the project progresses." 

Key perspectives included: 

• The community is open, generous and vibrant, and this should be reflected in the hospital design.
• Family is important and larger family groups should be considered when designing hospital areas.
• Listening to community feedback is essential.
• Parking and traffic are an issue in the Bankstown CBD local area and need to be addressed as part of planning.

The projects offer new training and employment opportunities which are welcomed by the community, and if we are building local, we should "employ local" for maximum economic uplift. Communities change over time but don't forget our older more established community groups. Young people should be a focus – children, youth and young families. 

The group also discussed how best to connect with communities. 

They told us that: 

• People rely on face-to-face communications and word of mouth.
• Younger people also speak English and use social media.
• Communication needs a blend of approaches including graphics and video explainers in community languages.
• We can't just rely on text because not everyone is literate in their natural language.
• We need to be careful about misinformation - information should be clear, direct and come from a trusted source.
• The project team is considered a trusted source, as are people like doctors, religious leaders and teachers. 

The session included our Canterbury Hospital Redevelopment team, and we will continue joint consultation as part of our integrated approach to local health facility planning. 

Thank you to the team from the City of Canterbury Bankstown and the CBMIA for hosting us. Our workshop took place on Dharug Country.