Utilisation of Medical Services—Difficulties and Solutions

ABSTRACT

This paper attempts to look at how social workers and bilingual community workers work with the Chinese community in Sydney to address the inequalities in health amongst the Chinese and other eon-English speaking communities. These workers must use their knowledge and skills in radical practices to police health inequalities and accomplish change through the development of effective initiatives in promoting active participation amongst Chinese Australians and obtaining more public funding for transcultural health. Active participation can be promoted in four areas: the development of a charter of health rights for people of non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB), an increase in representation of people of NESB on health boards, an increase in the number of bilingual and bicultural professionals and the establishment of mechanisms for regular monitoring of medical care provision for people of NESB. More public funding for transcultural health can be secured through a number of political fund raising activities. These include: to develop both formal and informal relationship with and to be able to influence ministers, ministerial advisers and senior public servants; to gain representation on statutory boards and committees; and, to express the need for access and equity through the ballot boxes.