Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Hughes for her question. Australia's COVID-19 vaccination program is officially underway. What we saw yesterday, 21 February 2021, was 84-year-old World War II survivor Jane Malysiak, who was able to get the first jab. I think it was a proud moment for all Australians.

Ensuring that safe and effective COVID vaccines are available to everyone in Australia is a key priority of the Morrison government, and that is why, as a government, we are extending free access to COVID-19 vaccines to all visas holders in Australia. This will include refugees, asylum seekers, temporary protection visa holders and those on bridging visas.

We also know that many people in the first groups to be vaccinated are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, making timely access to translated and culturally appropriate information critical. The Department of Health vaccine hub has translations in 63 languages available on its website and, now, on mobile devices. To build on this resource the government has developed a comprehensive communications plan to reach people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The campaign will run across a number of channels, including traditional and social media, and utilise existing networks of health professionals, local community and, of course, grassroots organisations. A range of translated resources have also been developed for multicultural communities, including radio and print editorials in language web content, social media posts and posters. We're also working with SBS to produce short explainer videos on the vaccine rollout in more than 60 languages and with the Migration Council Australia on an animated vaccine explainer in 29 languages.