# Innovative Policy Supports for Integration in Health and Social Care Focused on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations in Australia: A Qualitative Study

## TL;DR

This study explores policy supports for integrating health and social care for culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia, highlighting gaps in data sharing and funding.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a framework for innovative policy supports and identifies barriers to integration in CALD-focused programs.

## Key findings

- Most programs lacked new approaches to data sharing, with only two CALD-targeted programs using teleconferencing during emergencies.
- Only two programs reported special funding for vulnerable families and emergency department presenters.
- The study highlights the need for stakeholder collaboration and integrated funding to improve care for CALD communities.

## Abstract

The fragmented nature of Australian health and social care systems present a barrier to integrated care. Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities are recognised as a priority population with unmet health and social needs. This study describes policy supports for programs that promote health and social care integration with a CALD focus, including governance and partnerships; workforce and staffing; funding and payment; and data sharing and use. The research question was ‘what innovative policy supports to integrate health and social programs?’. Qualitative interviews of participants involved in the implementation of health and social care programs in the Sydney using the Innovative Policy Supports For Integrated Health And Social Care Programs Framework, were conducted. Twenty-seven participants from 24 health and social programs based in Sydney participated in the study. Six programs serviced CALD communities only. Ten had majority of CALD clients, with the remaining having a mixture of clients. Ten programs had a formal coordinator role. Most programs did not report new approaches to data sharing. Two out of the 6 CALD targeted programs reported data-sharing via teleconference in the context of emergency. These were 2 health programs addressing COVID-19 disparities and the humanitarian needs of refugees, respectively. Only 2 reported a special funding to assist vulnerable families and common emergency department presenters, respectively. This study demonstrated the lack of integration of services in health and social care. Policy development and implementation should consider bringing stakeholders together (informed by CALD groups) to advance the generation of technology for adopting universal standards and the integration of funding to better support health and social care for CALD communities in multicultural Australia.