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Although Hong Kong is a predominantly Chinese society, it also includes sizeable ethnic‑minority communities, including Nepali, Indian, and Pakistani residents. Ethnic‑minority (EM) caregivers face significant language and cultural barriers that not only limit their access to mainstream services but also hinder their motivation to seek support. Promoting equity in service access requires strengthening linkages between EM caregivers and formal services and providing clear pathways for help‑seeking. This requires a systematic understanding of caregiving needs and factors influencing caregiving behaviour, alongside the development of culturally responsive, needs-based service arrangements.
Building on the Carer Needs Screening Tool developed with Chinese caregivers (CNST‑11), this project aims to empower EM caregivers in Hong Kong by: (a) adapting and validating the tool for Nepali, Pakistani, and Indian caregivers in line with their cultural values and caregiving experiences; (b) identifying best practices for supporting caregivers with various levels of needs through optimising existing resources and services; and (c) mobilising the EM community to foster a mutual support network that promotes peer connection and facilitates access to appropriate services.
Method:
An interdisciplinary, multi‑stakeholder research team was established to support the project, in partnership with a leading non‑governmental organisation serving EM communities for decades. The CNST-11 was culturally adapted and validated through content and face validity tests, involving EM caregivers, multicultural project officers, linguistic specialists, and social workers. Co-creation workshops were conducted in collaboration with caregivers, service providers, health professionals, and other representatives from the EM community to generate insights on the development, refinement, and implementation of carer-centric interventions tailored to caregivers with varying levels of need, as identified through screening results. These workshops also served as a platform to develop strategies for mutual support within the EM community and enhance engagement with mainstream services.
Results:
The CNST-11 was translated into Nepali, Urdu, and Punjabi, demonstrating strong content validity and excellent face validity across all language versions. As of 31 March 2026, 208 EM caregivers had participated in the project and completed needs assessments. All the participants could engage in social and recreational services, capacity building workshops and other outreach activities. 57 participants (27.4%) identified as having moderate to high or high need received more intensive tailored interventions such as service matching and referrals, following service protocols developed through the project. A community activity centre was also established as a supportive hub for caregivers to access resources, exchange experiences, and build social networks, thereby reducing social isolation and enhancing psychosocial well-being.
Conclusions and Implications:
Applying the CNST‑11 among EM caregivers is crucial for promoting equity in access to caregiver support in Hong Kong. Systematic needs assessment enables early identification of caregivers with higher levels of need and supports more equitable matching to community‑based services and psychosocial interventions. Furthermore, the development of a mutual support community is critical to advancing equity by strengthening social capital, reducing access barriers, and facilitating more inclusive and sustained engagement with support services. Ongoing work will refine targeted interventions and evaluate their longer‑term impact on caregiver empowerment, service utilisation, and well‑being.