Chinese Community
Western Sydney is a diabetes hotspot with disease rates higher than the NSW average and the Chinese community has a 70 per cent increased chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
Engagement with the Mandarin speaking Chinese community has focused on addressing gaps in accessible, Australia specific diabetes information through digital platforms and community forums.
In response, Western Sydney Diabetes (WSD) developed a series of educational videos in Chinese to educate the Mandarin-speaking community in western Sydney on diabetes.
The 22 videos were launched on the Chinese social media messaging app, WeChat (click here).
Each video covers on topics related to diabetes care and management. They are also available on YouTube, here.
The videos were developed in collaboration with the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS), a state-wide health service established by NSW Health to strengthen the capacity of health services and programs to effectively and appropriately communicate with people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and coordinate the provision of multilingual health information.
The videos, delivered by a WSD endocrinologist, WSLHD Credentialed Diabetes Educators and other health specialists, not only target people from Chinese backgrounds but GPs to pass on to their patients.
Feedback to a community forum in 2025 called for more ongoing, easy‑to‑understand talks and guidance.
Free point‑of‑care HbA1c testing at the event highlighted a high prevalence of prediabetes among people over 40, underscoring the need for early intervention and a focus on body composition as well as weight.
In 2026, inspired by the success of this forum, the health professionals plan to:
- Develop further dietary advice videos with greater access through WeChat.
- Provide ongoing education and support via a repeat in-person forum.