African community leaders met with NSW Government in an August forum hosted by Africa Health Australia (AHA) to discuss the state of mental health in the COVID era.

AHA presented its second community forum in its series African Community Health Diary.

The online forum provides an opportunity for dialogue, counsel and information exchange between Government and community organisations.

Read about the first forum here, from May 2020.

Multicultural NSW CEO Joseph La Posta and the Senior Medical Advisor, NSW Health COVID-19 Response Team, Dr. Jan Fizzell joined the call as presenters.

However, Government representatives were also there to listen.

Key themes were on stronger communications and on-ground programming to reach vulnerable and emerging communities.

A big theme for community leaders was for Government to match its COVID-19 response initiatives with culturally appropriate tools, skills and values.