Radio Brisvaani
Brisbane, August 25
The Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) organised a series of awareness activities throughout July to highlight the importance of hepatitis B and C prevention, testing, and treatment in multicultural communities across the state.
The initiative reached thousands of people through a mix of community events, multilingual campaigns, and personal storytelling, ensuring vital health information was both accessible and culturally relevant.
At the heart of the engagement were information stalls at Sunnybank and Inala shopping centres, two of Brisbane’s busiest multicultural hubs. Visitors received resources on prevention and treatment, while the Inala stall also offered free rapid hepatitis B and C testing — giving community members the chance to take immediate action for their health.
Recognising the diversity of Queensland’s communities, ECCQ launched social media campaigns in multiple languages and published translated articles in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean newspapers, alongside an English-language piece in an Indian community paper. Hepatitis awareness messages were also broadcast in Mandarin and Cantonese on Cairns Community Radio, extending the campaign’s reach to regional audiences.
Three interactive workshops were conducted in Moorooka, Logan, and Redbank, covering hepatitis A, B, and C. A separate awareness talk was held at an African church in Toowoomba, ensuring important health information was shared with faith-based communities in culturally safe settings.
To make the issue personal and relatable, ECCQ shared the story of a Vietnamese woman living with hepatitis B, translated into several languages for social media. Her experience not only encouraged others to get tested but also highlighted the importance of seeking timely treatment and support.
ECCQ staff also contributed to the national conversation by presenting at the Hepatitis B and Culturally Responsive Care for Refugee, Migrant, and Diverse Communities webinar, hosted by ASHM and funded by Queensland Health. Their contributions helped shape strategies for improving care among at-risk populations.
Through these combined efforts, ECCQ underscored its commitment to ensuring that health awareness and services are inclusive, culturally sensitive, and accessible to all communities in Queensland.
Credit: ECCQ August newsletter
