Multicultural Centre For Women’s Health Inc

Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH) is a national, community-based organisation led by and for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Established in 1978 in Melbourne, Australia, MCWH aims to strengthen the health, wellbeing, safety, and leadership of migrant and refugee women across Australia.

Mission and Vision

MCWH’s mission is to promote health equity and education for migrant and refugee women. They believe in an intersectional, feminist, and collaborative approach to address the complex health needs of these communities. Their vision is to ensure that all migrant and refugee women have access to equitable health services and opportunities for leadership.

Main Objectives

• Advocacy: MCWH advocates for policies and practices that address the specific health needs of migrant and refugee women, focusing on issues like access to healthcare, workplace justice, and reproductive rights.
• Education: They provide bilingual health education to empower women to make informed decisions about their health.
• Leadership Development: MCWH supports the development of leadership skills among migrant and refugee women to enhance their participation in health decision-making processes.

Benefiting Groups

MCWH primarily serves migrant and refugee women across Australia, including those from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Their work also benefits gender diverse people within these communities.

Types of Services or Activities

MCWH offers a range of services and activities, including:

• Bilingual Health Education: Providing health information in multiple languages to help women understand and navigate the Australian healthcare system.
• Leadership Programs: Initiatives like the PACE leadership program to empower women to take leadership roles in their communities.
• Advocacy and Policy Work: Developing submissions and position papers to influence policy changes that benefit migrant and refugee women.
• Training and Capacity Building: Offering training for health workers and community leaders to enhance their ability to support migrant and refugee women.
• Multilingual Health Resources: Maintaining a library of health information in over 70 languages.

Through these efforts, MCWH works to address the unique challenges faced by migrant and refugee women in accessing healthcare and achieving overall wellbeing in Australia.