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Multicultural Centre for Women's Health

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Collingwood, VIC
Multicultural Centre for Women's Health

Australia’s national voice for immigrant and refugee women’s wellbeing Welcome to the MCWH community. We are all in this together.

This is a dedicated space for us to promote our events, stories and projects, and those of our collaborators. Our priority is to hold this space for the voices and wellbeing of migrant and refugee women. We welcome respectful discussions and if necessary we will remove comments to protect people’s privacy, rights and dignity. We hope you enjoy, engage with, and learn from this community.

08/10/2025

👉 44 bilingual health educators
👉 8 states and territories represented
👉 1 unique opportunity to come together

After three years of delivering Health in My Language, our national team of bilingual health educators came together for the first time face-to-face at the “My Health, My Language” national forum in Naarm (Melbourne).
We asked them “What does it mean to meet in person with the national team today?” and here’s what they had to say...

Alt text: footage shows people meeting and socialising at an event in a one of the rooms in Melbourne Town Hall, followed by a vox pop with seven people speaking directly to the camera and sharing their thoughts.

01/10/2025

We’re seeking a new Treasurer to join the MCWH Board. This voluntary position plays a key role in ensuring the financial health and sustainability of our organisation, which has championed migrant and refugee women’s health and wellbeing since 1978.⁠
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Join us if you have senior-level experience in finance, accounting or risk management, and a passion for advancing gender equality, health and rights for migrant and refugee women and gender diverse people. ⁠
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Applications close: 5:00 PM AEDT, 5th October 2025. ⁠
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Apply through EthicalJobs: https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/MCWH_Executive/board-treasurer
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Alt text: A group of diverse women from the MCWH Board stand together smiling in front of a light purple background. Below them, a bold purple banner with an orange border displays the text ‘Recruiting Board Treasurer.’ Underneath, white text reads ‘Voluntary position, Two-year term.’ At the bottom, a pill shape features the text ‘Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health.’

29/09/2025

In this month’s WRAP we look at:⁠
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🌏 What bilingual health education makes possible⁠
How bilingual health educators are transforming health education across Australia. ⁠
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➡️ Advocacy to Action ⁠
Practical steps you can take to support bilingual health education and the skilled workforce behind it. ⁠
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⏱ 60 Seconds with Alexandra Rijavec, Health Education Manager at MCWH ⁠
On what multiculturalism means to her.
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✉️ Read the full edition here: https://mailchi.mp/mcwh/wrapedition148_august2025-10138413
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Alt text:⁠
An image of a woman at a Health in My Language session at the Red Cross in the Northern Territory. She looks at a contraceptive pill packet while a bilingual health educator speaks in the background. Text on the image reads: #148 THE WRAP⁠
This month’s WRAP takes a look at what bilingual health education makes possible with a reflection on the recent Health in My Language Forum. Our Advocacy in Action segment has 6 practical actions, plus 60 seconds with MCWH’s Health Education Manager Alexandra Rijavec.

24/09/2025

To hear directly from women who have participated in the Health in My Language program across Australia confirms what we know: tailored, culturally and linguistically responsive health education makes a real difference to the health and wellbeing of migrant and refugee women.

So far, more than 8,000 women and gender-diverse people have participated in this program, learning about s*xual and reproductive health in the languages they know best, and from bilingual health educators they trust.

Every story shared is a reminder that when health information is accessible and culturally relevant, communities feel empowered to make informed choices.

👉 Want to learn more about the Health in My Language program? Visit www.mcwh.com.au/health-in-my-language

A big thank you to our wonderful partners across Australia for making this national program possible:
True Relationships & Reproductive Health
Australian Red Cross
Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services Inc

Women's Health Matters

22/09/2025

Last Friday, we gathered at Melbourne Town Hall for the first-ever My Health, My Language Forum — a national event celebrating the power of language, culture, and community in improving health for migrant and refugee women.

The forum was opened by The Hon Mary-Anne Thomas MP, Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services, and featured the launch of the Health in My Language Sexual and Reproductive Health Evaluation Report by The Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Indigenous Health and Women.

The report shows the real impact of the HiML program: women gaining knowledge, confidence, and the ability to share health information within their communities. You can read the full HiML evaluation report and summary here: https://www.mcwh.com.au/health-in-my-language-2024-25-evaluation-report/

Highlights of the day included:
🔹 A moving keynote from bilingual health educators May Alqas Alias (MCWH) and Israa Sedda (Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services Inc, WA).
🔹 The premiere of our Health in My Language Impact Video.
🔹 A thought-provoking panel on the future of bilingual health education, featuring experts including Dr Regina Torres-Quiazon (MCWH), Jasmine Phillips (cohealth), Hamidah Hassani (Australian Red Cross SA), and Anushe Khan (Women's Health Matters, ACT).
🔹 Afternoon discussion circles, where participants shared ideas on how to keep building momentum and impact together.

The energy in the room was incredible, a true reflection of the commitment across communities and organisations to ensure migrant and refugee women have access to health information they can trust, in the languages they know best.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to make this historic gathering so special. Together, we’re shaping a healthier, more inclusive future. 💜

01/09/2025

It’s Women’s Health Week (1–5 September), Australia’s biggest celebration of the health and wellbeing of all women, girls and gender-diverse people. 💜

This year’s theme, Say yes to you, is all about putting your health first. Each day will focus on a different health topic to inspire you to prioritise your wellbeing.

As a proud partner of Jean Hailes, MCWH is joining the call to say yes — to rest, to movement, to connection, to care, and to yourself.

Learn more about Women's Health Week here: https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/womens-health-week

28/08/2025

In this month's WRAP we look at:

❤️‍🩹Reproductive justice: a right, not a product.
How is international students' access to reproductive healthcare changing, and what does it mean for women international students?

➡️ Advocacy in Action
What can you do to build a more inclusive and responsive system for international students facing health inequity?

🌆60 Seconds feature with Daphne Julin, Founder of Warm Planet
Daphne's project aims to amplify public messaging of initiatives, organisations and places in Melbourne that are driven by social causes.

✉️ Read the full edition here: https://mailchi.mp/mcwh/wrapedition148_august2025

27/08/2025

At the My Health, My Language Forum, you’ll hear from leading experts in bilingual health education – including educators with lived experience and deep community knowledge.

Their stories will challenge, inspire, and empower all of us to reimagine what health equity can look like.

🗓️ Friday 19 September | 📍 Melbourne Town Hall
🎟️ Ticket sales close soon!

https://events.humanitix.com/himl-forum

Alt text: In an orange speech bubble: Hear keynote speeches by experts in bilingual health education. Two photos of bilingual health educators are below. May Alqas Alias and Israa Sedda. In a blue speech bubble: My Health, My Language: A National Bilingual Health Educator Forum – September 19 – Naarm/Melbourne. The MCWH Logo and HiML logo are on the post.

21/08/2025

The first national in-person gathering of the Health in My Language bilingual health educator workforce is finally here.

Join us to celebrate this vital community-led workforce that is changing the way health care is delivered – with language, respect, and cultural connection at its heart.

🗓️ Friday 19 September
📍 Naarm/Melbourne
🎟️ Open to all – bilingual educators, community workers, health professionals, and supporters welcome!

https://events.humanitix.com/himl-forum

Alt text: In a large, multi-coloured speech bubble, text reads: My Health, My Language: A National Bilingual Health Educator Forum. Text outside the bubble reads: The first national in-person gathering of Health in My Language educators – September 19 – Naarm/Melbourne. The MCWH Logo and HiML logo are on the post.

20/08/2025

Earlier this month, our CEO Dr Adele Murdolo had the great pleasure of participating in a panel discussion at the national roundtable focused on prevention and early intervention hosted by the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission.

In the discussion, we reiterated the importance of a coordinated and consistent approach to preventing violence in migrant and refugee communities, one that centres the expertise and experiences of migrant and refugee women and gender diverse people.

We thank the Commissioner Micaela Cronin for providing the opportunity for practitioners, leaders and lived experience advocates to come together to discuss the issues and solutions and to Minister Tanya Plibersek and Assistant Minister Ged Kearney for their attendance.

17/08/2025

We often hear from women who attend our s*xual and reproductive health sessions that they leave feeling more informed and confident to make decisions about their health.

That is what Health in My Language is about. Creating safe, in-language spaces where migrant and refugee women can learn, exchange knowledge, ask questions without fear of judgement.

Our bilingual health educators are delivering free sessions on contraception, safer s*x, pregnancy choices, and menopause in over 30 languages across Australia.

📩 To book a session for your community, email us at programs@mcwh.com.au or send us a direct message.

15/08/2025

What can you expect from the My Health, My Language Forum?

🧠 Thought-provoking conversations about the power of bilingual health education
🤝 Breakout room activities where you’ll connect with others passionate about community health
🛠️ Practical tools and insights to support real change in the health system

Whether you’re part of the bilingual workforce or care about community health, this event will leave you inspired and equipped to make a difference.

📍 Melbourne Town Hall
🗓️ Friday 19 September
🎟️ Tickets from $120 — discounts available

https://events.humanitix.com/himl-forum

Alt text: Title reads My Health, My Language: A National Bilingual Health Educator Forum. There are three boxes with icons in them and accompanying text. Icon of a light bulb: Thought provoking panel discussion about bilingual health education in Australia. Icon of four hands bringing puzzle pieces together: Breakout room activities where you can connect and network. Icon of a pen writing in an open book: Practical tools and insights to support systems level change. In a speech bubble on the bottom: September 19, 9am to 4pm, Melbourne Town Hall. The MCWH Logo and HiML logo are on the post.

Address

Suite 207, 134 Cambridge Street
Collingwood, VIC
3066

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61394180999

Website

http://www.mcwh.com.au/

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