Improving health and wellbeing outcomes for women and gender diverse people from migrant and refugee communities

The issue

Australia is one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse countries in the world. More than a quarter of the female population was born overseas, and almost half the female population has an overseas-born parent (DPMC 2023). Yet migrant and refugee women, girls and gender diverse people experience inequity at every level of the health system. For instance, lack of access to affordable, in-language and culturally appropriate health information and care results in health disparities such as poorer maternal and child health outcomes, lower rates of breast screening and greater risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection such as HIV or hepatitis (MCWH 2022).

Our work

Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health delivers statewide multilingual health education and advocacy to increase health and wellbeing opportunities for migrant and refugee women and gender diverse people. Our place-based organisations partner with local migrant and refugee communities and services to reduce systemic barriers to good health and wellbeing.

• We undertake research, evidence building and analysis to understand the current and emerging health needs, barriers and solutions to improve the health of women and gender diverse people from migrant and refugee communities.

• We coordinate in-language health information, health education and leadership programs for migrant and refugee women and gender diverse people across Victoria, such as multilingual health education and the Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program (FARREP).

• We build health system capacity to deliver inclusive and intersectional services and programs so that more Victorians have access to safe, respectful services.

Case studies