Multicultural health action plan 2023–27

Date:: 27 Mar 2024

The Department of Health multicultural health action plan 2023–27 outlines our commitment and action to improve the health and wellbeing of multicultural communities over the next four years. It sets out improvement goals and actions to embed cultural competency into all our services, programs and policies.

The department is accountable at all levels for ensuring inclusive, equitable and culturally competent policies, services and programs. This means being transparent about our efforts.
The Department of Health Executive Board will oversee implementation of the new plan, and all Deputy Secretaries will contribute to annual multicultural reporting processes. A snapshot of multicultural health outcomes will be reported annually to the Executive Board, using data linked to the new outcomes framework in the Department of Health strategic plan 2023–27. All Victorian government departments report annually on progress in implementing cultural diversity plans. This includes reporting on the use of language services, service use by multicultural communities, and a range of agreed activity and outcome indicators. The department’s contribution will form part of the annual Victorian Government report in multicultural affairs, which is tabled in parliament and is available on the Victorian Government website.

Secretary's foreword: Multicultural health action plan
It is important that every Victorian can access high-quality health care when they need it.
Introductory message from Kat Theophanous MP
Victoria is home to significant cultural diversity, making our state stronger, more dynamic and setting us apart from other cities.
Acknowledgements: Multicultural health action plan
The Department of Health pays respect to and recognises the contribution of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Victoria.
Overview of the multicultural health action plan
The Multicultural health action plan outlines our vision, as well as practical resources and supports, good practice principles and examples.
Victoria's cultural diversity
There is a wealth of diversity in multicultural communities, with multiple and overlapping characteristics across the life course that can shape a person’s identity, experience and needs.
Our multicultural health approach
It is the department's responsibility as system steward to ensure the health system is culturally competent, inclusive, accessible and safe.
Our plan for 2023-27
We must ensure multicultural communities access culturally competent health care and experience equitable health outcomes.
Appendices
A list of appendices has been provided for the Department of Health multicultural health action plan 2023-27

Updated 5 June 2024