Accurate, balanced evidence-based information about medicines
Translated health information about medicines Translated health information about medicines
Taking medicines can help improve your health, however there are also risks involved in using all medicines including prescription, over-the-counter, traditional and herbal medicines.
Studies have shown that more than 140,000 Australians are admitted to hospital every year as a result of problems with the use of medicines. These problems include side effects, medicines sensitivity, allergic reactions, negative reactions between medicines or foods, and prescribing or dispensing the wrong medicine for a particular health condition.
View translated information in the languages below to learn tips about how to use medicines safely and reduce the risks of experiencing problems with your medicines.
Resources developed in partnership with the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils' of Australia (FECCA) and other partners. |
|
Other medicines information resources for organisations working with CALD communities
In addition to translated health information, we have a range of resources available for organisations who work with people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to assist them to use their medicines safely and wisely. These include:- Community education sessions
- In-language health information for radio programs
- Multicultural network
- NPS Medicines Line
- Free telephone interpreting service for pharmacists
- ESL teaching resource
- Publications on medicines use and CALD communities
- MedicinesTalk
- Medicines peer education sessions for people over 50
Community Education sessions
NPS funds in-language seminars for community groups that are run by bilingual health professionals. These seminars are run by ethno-specific organisations in cities across Australia. In 2010 the seminars will cover two different topics:
- Safe and wise use of medicines – this seminar provides tips on how to use medicines safely, what you need to know about your medicine and how to avoid experiencing problems with your medicines.
- Sleep and ageing – this seminar covers everything you need to know about sleep including normal changes to sleep patterns as you age and simple tips for getting the best sleep without turning to medicines.
|
Language |
Organisation |
Contact number |
| NSW | ||
| Arabic | Arab Council Australia Inc. | 02 9709 4333 |
| Chinese | Australian Chinese Community Association of NSW Inc. | 02 9412 3488 |
| Chinese | Chinese Migrant Welfare Association Inc | 02 9716 0612 |
| Chinese | Chinese Australian Services Society Co-op Ltd. | 02 9789 4587 |
| Greek | Greek Welfare Centre | 02 9516 2188 |
| Italian | Co.As.It Italian Association of Assistance | 02 9564 0744 |
| Vietnamese | Vietnamese Women Association | 02 9723 2022 |
| VIC | ||
| Arabic | Victorian Arabic Social Services | 03 9309 0055 |
| Chinese | The Federation of Chinese Associations Vic | 03 9650 6468 |
| Chinese | Chinese Community Social Services Centre Inc. | 03 9898 1965 |
| Greek | Greek Welfare Centre Victoria | 03 9486 6588 |
| Greek | Australian Greek Welfare Society | 03 9388 9998 |
| Greek | Fronditha Care | 03 9495 2308 |
| Italian | Co.As.It Italian Assistance Association Victoria | 03 9349 9000 |
| Vietnamese | Australian Vietnamese Women's Association Inc. | 03 9428 9078 |
| Vietnamese | Springvale Indo-Chinese Mutual Assistance Association Inc. | 03 9547 7939 |
| QLD | ||
| Chinese | Hong Kong Associationof Queensland Inc. | 07 3216 9366 |
| Greek | Greek Orthodox Community of St George | 07 3844 3669 |
| Italian | Co.As.It QLD Italian Australian Welfare Association Inc. | 07 3352 5755 |
| Vietnamese | Diversicare, the community care division of the Ethnic Communities Council of QLD | 07 4723 1470 |
| WA | ||
| Chinese,Vietnamese | The Chung Wah Association Inc. | 08 9328 3988 |
| Italian | Italo-Australian Welfare & Cultural Centre Inc. | 08 9228 2220 |
| ACT | ||
| Chinese | ACT Chinese Australian Association Inc. | 02 6244 2419 |
| NT | ||
| Italian, Chinese, Greek, Vietnamese | Council On The Ageing NT in partnership with the Vietnamese Community | 08 8941 1004 |
| SA | ||
| Chinese | Overseas Chinese Association | 08 8445 1622 |
| Chinese | Chinese Welfare Services of SA Inc. | 08 8212 2988 |
| Italian | Co.As.It. SA Inc. | 08 8165 3755 |
Run your own community education session
Ask a bilingual health professional to run a community education seminar through your organisation using our PowerPoint presentations — in Italian, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese and presentation kit.
In-language health information for radio programs
Listen to our radio community service announcements, or download them and place them on your website.
Download the English scripts of the radio community service announcements and you can translate these for your local community radio station:
Download the English script of our radio interviews and you can translate these for your local community radio station.
Multicultural network
NPS emails the multicultural network with updates about what we’re doing with CALD communities and new resources to help you promote the safe and wise use of medicines.
Enquire about the multicultural network.
NPS Medicines Line
Call NPS Medicines Line on 1300 888 763 to speak to a qualified pharmacist about medicines. NPS Medicines Line is not an emergency service. Available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm (EST) for the cost of a local call (calls from mobiles may cost more).
If you need an interpreter, call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask to speak to the NPS Medicines Line on 1300 888 763.
Free telephone interpreting service for pharmacists
Registered pharmacies around Australia are now able to access free telephone interpreting services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pharmacies should register with the Translation and Interpreting Service (TIS) National on 131 450.
These free services are also available for:
- general practitioners providing Medicare services and their reception staff to arrange appointments and provide results of medical tests
- non-profit, non-government, community-based organisations for case work and emergency services where the organisation does not receive funding to provide these services
- local government authorities to communicate with non-English speaking residents on issues such as rates, garbage collection and urban services
- Emergency Management Australia.
A teaching resource for adult English as a second language classes
Download our ESL teaching resource that can be used in English language classes with adult learners. This resource was developed with the Adult Multicultural Education Services (AMES) Victoria and includes short stories, activity workbooks and audio files about using medicines safely.
Order by fax a free hardcopy of this resource.
Publications on medicines use and CALD communities
Download publications on medicines use and CALD communities:
- Participation and inclusion in health promotion practice: The Multicultural Community Quality Use of Medicines Program Reprinted with permission from Australian mosaic.
- Improving understanding of medicine use in CALD communities — Reprinted with permission from Australian mosaic.
MedicinesTalk
Written by consumers for consumers, MedicinesTalk is a free quarterly newsletter that gives reliable, accurate information and useful hints on managing medicines. Organisations can translate articles for their newsletters or community radio.
Download MedicinesTalk articles.
Medicines peer education sessions for people over 50
Book a free medicines peer education session for seniors from CALD communities. NPS works in partnership with the COTA organisations to deliver these sessions to seniors groups.
Queries and questions?
Please email NPS with any questions or queries on promoting the safe use of medicines with CALD consumers.
 |
 |
|
|
