Ballarat’s First Migrant Health Guide
On Thursday October 8th, 2026 we joined with multicultural community members and local organisations to officially launch Ballarat’s first-of-its-kind Migrant Health Guide.
Developed through the Multicultural Access Program (MAP), a partnership between BCH and BRMC, funded by Western Victoria Primary Health Network, the guide is designed to help people from migrant and culturally diverse backgrounds better understand and navigate local health services.
With more than 89 nationalities calling Ballarat home, having accessible and practical health information is more important than ever. The guide is already available in six languages, with plans to expand into more languages in the future.
One of the most special moments of yesterday’s launch was hearing directly from our multicultural community members about what this resource means to them. Several community members spoke warmly about the guide and praised the work of Tashkah, Robyn and the entire BCH team in developing something that feels genuinely important and meaningful to their communities.
Jack, who is originally from China, shared a particularly lovely reflection,
“I am so proud to see my language in print right here in the town I call home. This is so important.”
It’s moments like these that remind us why this work matters. Beyond providing health information, this guide is about helping people feel welcomed, included and confident when accessing the healthcare they need.
As our CEO Sean Duffy shared,
“We recognise there are many language barriers to accessing timely and important health care, especially when English is not a person’s first language. This can lead to not only frustration when navigating the health system, but potentially missed or delayed diagnoses.”
“This resource is an excellent step towards creating a more equitable approach to supporting our refugee and migrant communities to access the health care we all fundamentally deserve.”
Thanks to our partners at Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council (BRMC), Western Victoria Primary Health Network and everyone who joined us to celebrate. What a wonderful example of the work happening across BCH to make healthcare more accessible, inclusive and responsive to the needs of our growing community.
Photos by Paul Shire
