This Multicultural Health Week, the NSW Government is raising awareness of the importance of older people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds staying healthy, active and socially connected in their communities.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park today officially launched Multicultural Health Week (1 - 7 September) and announced the theme for this year, 'Healthy ageing: Older people are the heart of the family and community'.
The messages at the heart of Multicultural Health Week 2025 are:
- being physically active every day is important for older people to stay well and independent
- eating healthily can help older people feel and function better
- getting older is the biggest cancer risk factor, but finding cancer early can save lives; and
- being socially connected to family, friends, and the community is good for older people's health and wellbeing and creates a sense of belonging.
The population of NSW continues to age, with 18.2 per cent of residents aged 65 years and over in 2023, up from 17.6 per cent in 2021.
A significant portion of this older demographic is from CALD backgrounds, with 36 per cent of people aged 65 and over in NSW born overseas (ABS Census 2021). This group faces a higher risk of chronic health conditions which can affect quality of life, highlighting the importance of tailored health information and services.
The Healthy Eating Active Living website is where you can find resources on healthy ageing to help older people make small changes to improve their health and wellbeing, including practical tips, tools, and free NSW Government programs.
People of all ages are also encouraged to call the Get Healthy Service on 1300 806 258 if they need free, online tailored health coaching. Available from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm. Language support can be accessed by calling TIS National on 131 450 and asking to be connected to Get Healthy.
The Multicultural Health Week 2025 resources include:
- Community stories including videos of Multicultural Health Ambassadors Amir Salem OAM, Dimitra Micos OAM, Janey Tham and Maria Pirello promoting healthy ageing.
- Multicultural Health Week poster and social media assets in English and 40 community languages.
- Resources on healthy ageing in English and five community languages (Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Greek and Italian.
- Multicultural Youth Ambassadors
Visit the Multicultural Health Week webpage and NSW Multicultural Communication Service (MHCS) social media channels for more information and resources.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
"Talking about staying healthy is important. Multicultural Health Week is an opportunity to put the health and wellbeing of culturally and linguistically diverse communities front and centre.
"This year, the health of older people from multicultural backgrounds is at the heart of Multicultural Health Week, with new multilingual resources made available for them, their families and communities.
"The NSW Government is actively working to support healthy ageing by empowering older adults to live healthy, active, and fulfilling lives with dignity and independence, including through the Ageing Well in NSW: Seniors Strategy 2021-2031."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper:
"Initiatives like these go far in ensuring NSW's diverse communities are healthy, active and socially connected.
"NSW is blessed to have so many amazing communities, and a vibrant multiculturalism, and we want to ensure that everyone is fit and healthy, especially our valuable elderly people from diverse backgrounds."
Quotes attributable to NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM:
"I am delighted to join this year's launch of Multicultural Health Week, which focuses on healthy ageing in our culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
"NSW Health provides a range of healthy ageing programs and resources to support older people and promote the importance of wellbeing, independence and social inclusion.
"The stories from this year's Multicultural Health Ambassadors Amir Salem OAM, Dimitra Micos OAM, Janey Tham and Maria Pirello are great examples of healthy ageing, showcasing that older people are the heart of family and community."
Quotes attributable to NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO, Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O'Brien AM:
"Age is the biggest cancer risk factor which is why it's critically important that as a community, we do everything possible to reduce our cancer risk by living a healthy life, taking part in cancer screening and seeing a GP regularly, especially if we notice changes to our health.
"Supporting multicultural communities to reduce their cancer risk and access cancer care and support when they need it is crucial. That's why this Multicultural Health Week, we're proud to be helping elevate the voices and health needs of our richly diverse NSW community."
Quotes attributable to NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service Director Lisa Woodland:
"We have partnered again this year with NSW Health and Cancer Institute NSW to deliver important health messages to keep older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds at the heart of their families and communities.
"I am thrilled with our ongoing collaboration with the Prevention Education and Research Unit (PERU) in engaging young people to play a key role in delivering health messages. This year, we partnered with six talented Multicultural Youth Ambassadors to deliver stories on how they play an active role in helping older people in their families and communities live healthy and socially connected lives."
Quotes attributable to Multicultural Health Ambassadors:
"Being socially connected gives me great courage and makes me feel strong." - Dimitra Micos OAM, 76 years old
"I have to age healthily because I love being around my grandchildren. Healthy eating gives me good health so I can see my grandchildren grow." - Maria Pirrello, 77 years old
"My three top tips for healthy aging are eating healthy food, being physically active and having a harmonious family life." - Amir Salem OAM, 82 years old
"Health is a treasure. Even if you have a lot of money, but you don't have good health, you are in big trouble. I go to see my GP regularly to keep up with medical checkups because prevention is better than cure." - Janey Tham, over 60 years old
