We have a diverse staff team who can provide friendly and confidential support on issues relating to health and wellbeing, or assist you in working with migrant or refugee clients.

Manager - Alison Coelho

As Manager of Multicultural Health and Support Services, Alli directs the organisation's approach to HIV, sexually transmissible infections, blood borne diseases and hepatitis prevention amongst refugee and migrant communities in Victoria. 

For the past four and a half years Alli led the Social Planning Unit at Moonee Valley City Council.  Prior to this she worked at the Centre for Multicultural Youth and has spent more than a decade in the community sector in policy, advocacy and direct service.  Alli is committed to addressing the specific needs and health inequalities experienced by refugee and migrant communities. 

T: +61 3 9418 9909

Asvin Phorugngam, Senior Community Worker

Asvin previously worked as a Health Educator at the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men's Health Centre with a focus on Peer Education, Adult Education and training both in Australia and overseas.

Asvin's role at MHSS is to provide day to day supervision and support to MHSS' Community Workers. He is also responsible for developing and delivering Peer Education Facilitator Training to culturally and linguistically diverse workers as well as community members.

T: +61 3 9418 9915

Huong Ngo, Community Worker

Huong has been working with MHSS since February 2002. She works closely with and supports Vietnamese injecting drug users through outreach work. Huong has been involved in a number of projects working with drug users of Vietnamese background, including the production of the  Transmission DVD  for young Vietnamese-Australians at risk of hepatitis C. She was also involved in setting up a Vietnamese Friendship Group for Vietnamese HIV-positive injecting drug users and has encouraged peer education among injecting drug users. Huong is currently studying Community Welfare.

T: +61 3 9418 9920

Cliff Chen, Community Worker

Cliff Chen joined the MHSS team in mid-2010. His role is to work with the Chinese, Burmese and Laotian communities, as well as international students. Cliff has a diploma in Community Welfare and has worked with children with disabilities and their families at Interchange North West. Before coming to Australia in 2007, Cliff spent five years in the criminal justice sector working closely with offenders for the People's Procuratorate of Shunde in China.

T: +61 3 9418 9917

miriam bah

Miriam had previously volunteered her services to MHSS’ peer education project with the Liberian community before securing her position as a community worker for the African community. In this role, she facilitates and delivers information sessions dealing with sexual and reproductive health for women. Miriam has also supported the resettlement of migrants and asylum seekers as a volunteer with the Migrant Resource Centre, and is the founder and president of the Migrant African Women Association, assisting women and their families engage with their communities.

T: +61 3 9418 9919

Chiedza Malunga

Chiedza returned to MHSS in July 2011 to the position of Peer Education Worker, bringing experience in community development and health promotion on the sexual and reproductive health needs of communities from a migrant or refugee background with her. For MHSS, she undertook the  sister2sister  project, raising awareness of health issues amongst young women.

Prior to this she worked in the youth, settlement, sport and health sectors training professionals how to work effectively with young people from a refugee or migrant background for the Centre for Multicultural Youth, and is completing postgraduate studies in Public Health and Health Administration.

T: +61 3 9418 9916