The Local Government and Shires Associations of New South Wales have launched a new photography campaign to provide greater insight into the lives and wellbeing of Afghani, Bhutanese and Somali communities.

The Photovoice initiative teaches photography skills to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities through a series of workshops and enables them to communicate non-verbally with councils.

Speaking at the launch of the NSW Multicultural Health Week in Sydney, Local Government Association president Genia McCaffery announced that Griffith City Council, Albury City Council and Auburn City Council had been selected to pilot the initiative.

“One of the most important things on every council’s agenda is to have happy and healthy communities,” Cr McCaffery said.

“With nearly one in three NSW residents born overseas and about one in five speaking a language other than English, Photovoice has enormous potential.

“Photovoice will not only provide participants with an outlet to express their thoughts, concerns and feelings, but it will also give others an intimate insight into their lives.”

Shires Association president Bruce Miller said visual documentation of the daily lives of CALD communities would help governments to deliver the right services and policies to meet their needs.

“Photovoice allows them to overcome language barriers, have a say in what happens around them and make a difference in their lives,” Cr Miller said.

“The community will also decide the way photographs will be used to get their messages across – whether it’s through an exhibition, postcards or even as part of a report.”

In NSW, nearly one in three residents are born overseas and around one in five speak a language other than English.
Multicultural Health Week seeks to remind NSW health services and government bodies of the importance of providing equitable access to information and resources to Australians whose first language may not be English.

This year, the Local Government and Shires Associations have partnered with Multicultural Health Week to increase awareness of the role councils play in providing healthy and supportive environments for CALD communities.

For further information visit www.multiculturalhealthweek.com.