Culture and Place-based Populations

WSD prioritises targeted interventions for at-risk populations in Western Sydney, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Indian, Chinese, and Filipino communities. 

By developing localised strategies, WSD addresses diabetes within these communities effectively. Key focus areas include Toongabbie and Blacktown, where significant progress and valuable lessons have been achieved.

NSW is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) states in Australia. With one in three residents having been born overseas and approximately one in five speaking a language other than English at home.

In Western Sydney, diversity brings richness to the community and sometimes barriers to delivery of health services. In the case of diabetes due to the nature of the complexity of the condition with lifestyle modification and multifaceted self-care needs, growth in lower income areas and its impact on healthier dietary habits, fewer physical activity opportunities and limited health resources means it is important to design programs which are culturally appropriate considering language barriers and literacy rates.

• Healthy Living Toongabbie
• Filipino Australian Diabetes Support Network (FADSN)
• Chinese 
• Auburn Diabetes Initiative