If you are reading MedicinesTalk, you are presumably reading it because you want to learn more about medicines. But, have you ever wondered how people from multicultural communities whose first language is not English might obtain such information?

The 'Families get to know their medicines' trial is a new project that hopes to reach families from long-settled multicultural communities. The project will incorporate information about the quality use of medicines into the language lessons given to 10-16 year old students attending Chinese, Greek and Vietnamese after hours ethnic schools in Queensland.

Students share their newly acquired knowledge with
parents, grandparents and other family members

The project is based on a concept of 'kitchen table discussions', where it is hoped that students will share their newly acquired knowledge with their parents, grandparents and other family members when they discuss around the kitchen table what they have learnt in their language lessons. The project also uses interactive games and project work to encourage all family members to become involved.

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Community language schools

Community language schools — also known as after hours ethnic schools — provide opportunities for children from multicultural communities to learn the language of their parents or grandparents, and learn about and strengthen their cultural heritage. The schools are run by multicultural communities outside normal school hours.

In 2006, over 100,000 students learnt 80 different languages in ethnic schools throughout Australia. In Queensland, about 1600 children aged 10-16 years learnt Mandarin, Cantonese, Greek and Vietnamese in 22 ethnic schools.

Lessons

The teaching package, comprising seven two-hour lessons, was originally developed in English. A team of specialists from each language community then translated the lessons, and adapted them as needed to meet the needs of each community. Special care was taken to ensure that the translated medicines information was accurate, and that the information, names, examples and activities used took into account the community's cultural beliefs and practices.

Instructors from ethnic schools at a workshop to learn about the new 'Families get to know their medicines' unit.

Lessons teach students the principles of using medicines safely by encouraging them to find out about and tell stories about their families' traditional remedies, medicines and encounters with the Australian medicines system. They also develop the language skills necessary to discuss the information with their families. At all times, equal importance is placed on acquiring medicines information and improving community language competency.

One group of instructors learning to play the 'Decisions' game.

Only general information about the principles of using medicines safely and wisely is included: no information about the specific medicines that family members may be using is discussed. Fun activities and competitions are used to reinforce the learning. Lesson topics include

• What is a medicine?
• Traditional use of medicines
• Managing and using medicines safely
• Types of questions to ask about a new medicine
• The importance of reliable sources of information

Lessons include homework activities that the students complete at home with their families. These activities are designed to raise family members' awareness and knowledge of quality use of medicines issues. They include quizzes and games, including a snakes-and-ladders-like game and a game that involves solving moral dilemmas about medicines. Students also compile a portfolio (a folder containing all their classwork and homework).

Students are assessed in the seventh lesson when the whole class plays a 'Decisions Game', and each student presents their portfolio.

It is hoped that the information shared with parents and grandparents will help families seek, understand and use information about medicines; help them use medicines safely and effectively; and encourage them to discuss their medicines with their doctors and pharmacists.

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Future

The anticipated start of the 'Families get to know their medicines' trial in Term 3, 2007 will be the culmination of 18 months hard work and collaboration by many organisations and individuals (see box). However, the team's work will be far from complete. During Term 3, an extensive evaluation of the trial will be conducted to determine the degree to which it achieves its aims and what modifications are needed. If the evaluation shows the trial is successful, the project will be extended to other Chinese, Greek and Vietnamese communities in Australia.

Who is involved?

A project like the 'Families get to know their medicines' trial involves extensive behind-the-scenes collaboration and consultation. This box summarises the partnerships and collaborations involved in taking the trial from a great idea to its realisation in the classroom.

National partnerships between

• Community Languages Australia (CLA)
• Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA)
• National Prescribing Service (NPS)

Ongoing collaboration and communication between partners and

• Queensland LOTE Centre (QLC)
• Ethnic Schools Association of Queensland (ESAQ)
• Victorian-based specialist on ethnic school curriculum programs
• Chinese, Greek and Vietnamese ethnic school principals, coordinators and instructors

(LOTE = Languages other than English)

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