The Hon. Greg Hunt MP
Minister for Health and Aged Care
The Hon. Alex Hawke MP
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship
Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
The Australian Government is investing over $1 million for targeted communication campaigns to ensure multicultural communities throughout Australia have the information they need about the COVID-19 vaccination program.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said it is essential that we partner with the Multicultural communities and support them in promoting the uptake of vaccinations.
“As increasing numbers of Australians become eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, the Australian Government is ensuring everyone can have confidence in the vaccination program,” Minister Hunt said.
“Today we are launching a program to encourage their involvement in reaching out to their own communities about the COVID-19 pandemic and the vaccination rollout.”
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council is administering the $1.2 million small grants program to help culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community groups share critical COVID-19 vaccination information.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke said the Government is empowering community groups to design and lead grassroots consultations tailored to meet individual community needs.
“We are ensuring that regardless of cultural background or language spoken everyone is aware of the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine program, where they can access more information, and how they go about receiving their vaccine when eligible,” Minister Hawke said.
The community grants program will open Monday, 21 June 2021. Community groups who would like to apply should visit https://fecca.org.au/grants/.
Australia’s peak multicultural organisations have been supported to lead community consultation and forums during the pandemic, and to shape culturally appropriate and effective communications and policy.
The national Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities COVID-19 Health Advisory Group has also been working closely with the Government to coordinate and support the evidence-based response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the grants being launched today at their latest roundtable to engage the multicultural community.
More information about CALD materials and the COVID-19 vaccination program is available online.
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