Hannah Jongebloed

Background: Informal carers are essential in supporting people with cancer yet often experience unmet supportive care needs. Aims: The aim of this study was to examine (a) access to supportive care services (b) perceived barriers to accessing services, and (c) the potential influence of carer health literacy on access and barriers to supportive care among carers across three priority population groups (rural‐remote‐dwelling, LGBTIQA+ and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)). Methods: Cross‐sectional online survey of Australian adult cancer carers. Supportive care use, access barriers, and health literacy (Health Literacy of Caregivers Scale – Cancer (HLSC‐C)) were assessed. Logistic regression examined differences across priority groups, and mediation analyses explored the role of health literacy. Results: Among 1154 carers, 61.9% accessed some supportive care (46.7% formal services), yet 86.6% reported at least one barrier, with 71.0% reporting two or more. Common barriers were time constraints, service availability, and long wait times. Compared to non‐priority population carers, rural/remote carers had higher odds of reporting limited local availability and services not available when needed (aOR = 5.08 for both). CALD carers had higher odds of reporting a barrier (aOR = 1.81), including long wait times, cost, and lack of culturally appropriate services (aOR = 33.03). Health literacy significantly mediated the association between CALD status and reported barriers. Conclusions: Cancer carers have limited access to supportive care and face systemic barriers. Inequities remain, particularly for carers from rural/remote areas and those from CALD backgrounds. To improve equity, there is a need for co‐designed, accessible interventions that address health literacy and the diverse geographic, cultural, and linguistic needs of carers. Patient or Public Contribution: People with lived experience of cancer caregiving were included on this study's advisory committee. In this role, their expertise informed the study design, including the development of the questionnaire, the Participant Information and Consent Form (PICF), and recruitment processes. They were also invited to contribute to data interpretation and the preparation of this manuscript. The lead consumer representative (NR) is listed as a co‐author on this manuscript.

Objectives: Marginalised and non‐white voices are under‐represented in food and nutrition policy in Australia. To achieve equitable food systems that support healthy diets for all, the voices and lived experiences of people from diverse cultural backgrounds must be meaningfully included in decision‐making. This research aimed to understand Sub‐Saharan African (SSA) young people's experiences of food and nutrition and identify opportunities for culturally sensitive policies that can improve these experiences in Victoria, Australia. Design: A qualitative approach, grounded in critical theory, experience‐based co‐design and the Social and Emotional Wellbeing framework, was employed to attain a policy‐relevant understanding of SSA young people's perspectives and engagement with food and nutrition in Australia. In‐depth interview guides were co‐designed with an advisory committee of multicultural young people, including two young SSA Australians. Results: Twenty young people (15–25 years) with East and West African backgrounds were interviewed, mostly from metropolitan Victoria (75%). Four overarching themes were identified describing (i) young people's experiences of cultural food shaping their identity but being difficult to access due to systemic barriers, (ii) food affordability and economic opportunities influencing community wellbeing, (iii) the mixed relevance of dominant food and nutrition policy priorities and (iv) the need for stronger government prioritisation of migrants and equity. Conclusion: This research identifies food as a critical determinant of health and wellbeing among SSA youth, serving not only as a cultural factor but also as a pathway for economic and social advancement. Mainstream food and nutrition policies do not fully address the priorities of SSA youth and opportunities exist to develop more culturally sensitive policy options. Additional efforts are required from the public health community to address discrimination across food systems, starting with better inclusion of multicultural experiences and voices in research, policy and practice.