Multicultural Health & Support Service (MHSS)
CEH’s Multicultural Health & Support Service works with communities and health professionals to address the poorer health outcomes experienced by people from refugee & migrant backgrounds, asylum seekers and mobile populations. It aims to prevent HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections, and offer a multicultural approach to alcohol and other drug support.
Our Goal
To prevent new incidences and transmission of BBV/STI in refugee, asylum seeker and migrant communities, and mobile populations.
To increase BBV/ STI knowledge, uptake of harm minimisation strategies screening, testing, treatment and use of relevant care and support services by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community members
To increase responsiveness and service coordination in relation to BBV/STI prevention and transmission in refugee and migrant communities.
Services
Community Education sessions
Tailored, free community education sessions on sexual health, viral Hepatitis & HIV, respectful relationships & contraception, for people from refugee & migrant backgrounds, asylum seekers & international students. (costs may apply for non-community members)
MHSS Community Education Flyer
Peer Education Projects
We work in partnership with community members to deliver BBV/STI training in first language, while empowering them to become health promotion advocates.
Download Community Education Flyer
Community Action Projects
Supporting community members and groups to lead their own health promotion activities & resource development to improve their health literacy and increase the health and wellbeing of their communities.
Multicultural Community Action Network (M-CAN)
M-CAN brings together members of refugee & migrant communities to help like-minded people work towards improving the sexual health of their own communities.
M-CAN For more information click here
to join M-CAN please complete this form.
Download M-CAN Flyer
Professional Development
Training sessions for workers from a number of sectors on engaging with communities on highly stigmatised & sensitive topics, such as sexual health to improve culturally competent service delivery.
Workshops – HBV Made Easy – Hepatitis B Hepatitis B Made Easy Workshop Flyer
Download HBV Made Easy Flyer
Networks – WORKING TOGETHER
Communities are more powerful when they work together and support each other.
Multicultural Sexual Health (MSHN)
This platform brings together stakeholders from various sectors including health, youth, settlement, education, employment and housing to discuss strategies to address some of the health issues affecting asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and international students, such as emerging blood borne viruses and STIs.
Multicultural Community Action (M-CAN)
Refugee and migrant communities are more vulnerable to blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections and generally experience poorer health outcomes compared to the established Australian population. (M-CAN) brings together members from these communities to help like-minded people work towards improving the sexual health of their own communities.
International Students’ Sexual Health
Established in 2015 ISHHN provides the opportunity for health professionals to address issues related to the sexual health of international students. Members share information in research, policy and practice, as well as collaborate on projects to promote the sexual health and wellbeing of international students who are studying in Australia.
Projects
FIGHTING HIV
- PrEP – The Facts.
Watch the video that explains PrEP – Pre–exposure prophylaxis
A drug that helps prevent you from getting HIV. - HIV info sessions
EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE
Keeping You Sexy & Safe (KYSS) Education initiative for Young People
Sexual health education sessions about STIs, BBVs & healthy relationships.
The KYSS Project seeks to bridge the gap & address the lack of sexual health & literacy knowledge prevalent among disengaged young people, especially those from refugee & migrant backgrounds and young asylum seekers, who are at high risk of contracting STIs.
TACKLING HEP B
- Peer Education Sessions
- Hep B Made Easy
The Rainbow Connection Project
A creative platform for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds
to share their experiences in relation to health, identity, gender, relationships, culture, racism and discrimination.
POLICY & ADVOCACY
Our work is underpinned by the principles of access and equity for all:
- Racism & Health
- International Students
- Gender Equity
- Preventing Violence Against Women (PVAW)
- PrEP for all
- Participation & Inclusion
Partnerships & Supporters
Action to prevent violence against women
Cancer Council
Cohealth
Maribyrnong City Council
Migrant & Refugee Women’s Health Partnership
Western English Language School (WELS)
Women’s Health West
Multicultural Alcohol & Drug Support Program Partners
North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) Turning Point, Drummond Street, VAADA, the Burnet Institute and Sudanese Mothers Coalition.
