Report shows more is needed to support bilingual staff

A new report identifies the need for employers to make a greater effort to recruit and retain staff with bilingual skills.

The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health (CEH) has completed an investigation into the employment and role of bilingual staff in Victorian health and community service organisations. Its report, the Bilingual Staff Research Project, includes a set of guidelines for employers to use when recruiting and working with bilingual employees.

CEH is a specialist provider of training and information on cultural diversity, health and wellbeing.

Its report has identified that bilingual employees work in a range of occupations. They speak directly to clients in languages other than English and play a key role in facilitating communication between staff and clients who do not share a common language.

"Despite the importance of bilingual staff within health and community organisations, employers have a limited understanding of their role," said CEH Executive Manager, Michal Morris.

"While many employers talked about how difficult it was to find and keep skilled bilingual staff, very few had programs in place to recognise and develop language skills, or to retain bilingual employees in their workplaces."

Guidelines offered in the Bilingual Staff Research Project include:

• ways to define the communication roles of bilingual employees
• tools to assess language skills of potential employees
• strategies to attract and retain staff within a workplace

"Employers need to determine the best way for bilingual employees to work within their organisations, and incorporate this into policy, procedures and position descriptions," said Ms Morris.

Research results were drawn from staged community consultations including a public forum and a series of roundtable discussions with representatives of government, ethnic communities, language services and service providers.

The Bilingual Staff Research Report was funded by the Victorian Multicultural Commission. It is available from the CEH website at http://www.ceh.org.au/resources  (click on 'resources produced by CEH').

CEH will present its research findings at an event titled: Now we're talking ... A panel discussion on the future of language services in Victoria

3pm - 4.30pm

Thursday 27 November 2008

Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, 81-85 Barry Street, Carlton

For further information contact:  Thea Saliba on 03 9342 9714.