Content components This page focuses on lived experience, inclusion and the experiences of multicultural communities. For detailed demographic data in Boroondara, see our Cultural diversity page.People from multicultural communities may face challenges that affect their health and wellbeing. These can include language barriers, difficulty accessing services, limited health information, and experiences of discrimination.These challenges can lead to poorer health outcomes and make it harder to access care that meets people’s cultural needs.Prevalence of chronic conditions by country of birthPeople born in some countries are more likely to experience certain health conditions, such as dementia, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease, than people born in Australia. This is especially the case for people from regions including Polynesia, South Asia and the Middle East (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2023). Recent arrivals may also face different challenges than those who have been in Australia longer. Health outcomes for multicultural communities are shaped by many factors. These include people’s life experiences before arriving in Australia, their migration experience, and the social and economic conditions they live in now. Not all of these factors are captured consistently in data.Discrimination and racism experienced by Boroondara residentsThe Victorian Population Health Survey 2023 indicates that:16% of Boroondara adults experienced discrimination in the past 12 months, a figure like metropolitan Melbourne (16.3%)9.2% of Boroondara adults experienced racism during the same period (slightly higher than the 8% reported across metropolitan Melbourne).Research has shown that racism can have a negative impact on both mental and physical health. Victorian adults who frequently experience racism are much more likely to have poor mental health, and more likely to have poor physical health (Department of Health, 2023).Violence against women from migrant and refugee backgroundsSome studies suggest high prevalence rates of violence against women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, and specific issues of complexity arising from factors such as migration status, cultural differences and language barriers (Women’s Health East 2021).
