The provision of special services for people of non-English speaking backgr
ound in Australia emerged in the context of the development of policies of
multiculturalism. This article documents the trends in stair and federal po
licy development and service provision in the 1990s, as influenced by the s
ometimes-competing forces of political will, financial resources and commun
ity demand. The sustainability of various programmes is examined in the con
text of the continuing need to provide for people whose access to mainstrea
m health services remains problematic. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Lt
d. All rights reserved.