For Metro South Health Multicultural Staff Connect Chair Sam Bennett, Multicultural Queensland Month (MQM) is more than an awareness campaign – it's an opportunity to celebrate how cultural diversity strengthens healthcare every day.
The statewide initiative celebrates Queensland's multicultural communities through events, storytelling, performances and learning. Sam says QEII Hospital's diverse workforce is one of its greatest strengths and encourages staff to join the Multicultural Staff Connect network ahead of the celebrations in August.
"What I love about QEII is the diversity of our staff and the way they deliver culturally safe healthcare for every patient.
"Everyone wants to see a friendly face when they access healthcare services. This is especially important for people from culturally diverse communities who may have experienced stigma or barriers to care.
"When patients see someone who understands their language or cultural beliefs, it helps create a welcoming and safe environment where everyone feels included."
The Multicultural Staff Connect network brings together staff from across Metro South Health to celebrate and promote cultural diversity and bring visibility through building greater awareness across the organisation.
"We have around 30 staff members from a wide range of cultural, religious and language backgrounds who meet online each month to support the development and implementation of culturally inclusive practices, identify barriers and opportunities for inclusion, and collaborate with other staff networks and committees to promote intersectional equity.
"Our aim is to highlight the diversity of our workforce and the unique strengths people bring to work every day."
Sam's passion for multiculturalism is also deeply personal.
"My father is from Hong Kong, so I grew up speaking Cantonese and celebrating the richness of that culture. It's one of the reasons I wanted to work in this space – to help ensure everyone has the opportunity to share and celebrate their own culture and language, just as I have throughout my life."
Before joining Metro South Health, Sam worked in multicultural health equity and promotion in New Zealand and Singapore, then later with the Queensland Department of Education.
In her substantive role as Senior Communication and Engagement Officer for the QEII Expansion, Sam says cultural awareness is central to effective engagement with the community.
"It's about putting yourself in someone else's shoes and thinking about how they'll receive information and is it inclusive and accessible. Are there cultural nuances we need to consider?
"Whether we're communicating about our exciting new car park opening later this year or the expanded or new clinical services infrastructure we are building, it's about making sure everyone can access the information they need and feel included in the journey."
Sam says it’s easy for colleagues who are interested in celebrating and promoting cultural diversity to join the network.
"We'd love more QEII staff to get involved ahead of Multicultural Queensland Month to showcase the richness that cultural diversity brings to our workplace.”
You can connect via metrosouthdiversity@health.qld.gov.au or complete the expression of interest form.