A UNSW medical researcher says fewer Australians are getting vaccinated, with the decline hitting some communities harder than others.
As Australia heads into another flu season, a UNSW Sydney researcher says vaccination rates are falling across the population – with continued inequities in vaccine coverage for some communities.
UNSW social scientist Professor Holly Seale specialises in vaccination and health equity. She says among some Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, the risk of ending up in hospital due to a vaccine preventable disease is higher – and the issue is not as simple as being vaccine hesitant.
“If services aren’t easy to navigate, if information isn’t in your language, or if there’s a lack of trusted voices, people can miss out,” Prof. Seale says.
“Even when vaccines are free.”
For older Australians in particular, she says the risks go beyond a bad bout of illness.
“Flu isn’t just a few days in bed for many older people,” says Prof. Seale.
“It can be the difference between living independently and needing ongoing care.
“We see people go from being at home to requiring residential care after a respiratory infection.”
The role of community
In 2025, the NSW Government committed $15 million over four years to boost vaccination rates among priority populations.
The program funds local organisations such as migrant resource centres, multicultural groups and community radio stations to work directly with their communities – as ‘connectors’ for immunisation.
Staff members are trained to share information in culturally appropriate ways, help people understand what vaccines they are eligible for and explain how to access them.
Prof. Seale has been working alongside NSW Health to develop the online training and resources for these staff, drawing on behavioural science and community engagement strategies.
“People are far more likely to act on information that comes from someone they know and trust,” she says.
“This could be a community leader, a local organisation, or even a family member.”
One organisation involved in the program, the Community Migrant Resource Centre (CMRC), says the training has helped staff engage communities in more practical and culturally safe ways.
“The training was extremely comprehensive, informative and well-structured,” says Aurelia Rahman, Head of Community Engagement and Relations at CMRC.
“A significant amount of time was dedicated to understanding vaccine information, communication strategies, addressing misinformation, alongside ways to engage communities effectively.”
CMRC has since delivered vaccination awareness sessions across multicultural communities on childhood vaccinations, adolescent vaccinations and healthy ageing.
The organisation has also partnered with local groups to run sessions at community gatherings, seniors’ groups, women’s groups and multicultural events.
In one example, a Community Connector participated in an interview on an Afghan radio station to encourage listeners to seek trusted health information about vaccines.
The organisation says the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Many community members expressed appreciation for receiving information in a culturally safe and accessible way, particularly when sessions were delivered in their native language or supported by interpreters or community leaders,” says Immunisation Project Coordinator and CMRC Multicultural Ambassador Shikha Arora.
The CMRC reported a greater willingness among community members to speak with GPs and healthcare providers about vaccination and preventative health.
“Some groups have shown interest in having community pharmacists attend their meetings or community sessions to provide on-site flu vaccinations,” Ms Arora says.
“This demonstrates growing engagement and trust in vaccination services,” she says.
“Overall, the program has contributed to greater awareness, more open conversations around vaccination and stronger community engagement with health services.”
Spreading the message
With Australia’s flu season now underway, vaccination remains the most effective prevention for severe illness – particularly for young children, pregnant women, older adults and those with underlying health conditions.
But with coverage rates down, the country is more exposed than it should be.
Prof. Seale says this raises concerns about preventable hospitalisations and long-term complications.
Improving vaccination rates means making vaccines easier to access, ensuring information is clear and culturally appropriate – and it means working with communities, not just targeting them.
Australians aged 65+ years can receive the influenza for free. As of May 15, anyone aged 75+ years can also receive the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine for free, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people eligible from the age of 60.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can be dangerous for adults who have certain medical conditions, are elderly or frail, or live in a nursing home.
“With the RSV vaccine now available for free for older adults in Australia, it is critical we ensure all our community members are accessing this and all the other vaccines that support healthy ageing,” Prof. Seale says.
“We’re focusing on equity, making sure everyone has the opportunity, the information and the support to get vaccinated.”
To check what vaccines you’re eligible for, speak to a GP or pharmacist.
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Melissa Lyne, UNSW news & content
