Upcoming Event

Event: African Women's Cross Cultural Exchange Day

Date: Friday 13th June

Time: 10.30am to 3pm

Location: Footscray Baptist Church Hall, 60 Paisley Street, Footscray 3011

On Friday 13 June from 10.30am to 3pm, Women’s Health West will create an opportunity for health service providers to sit with women from African communities to talk, eat and celebrate the diversity of
African culture.

We aim to share with service providers the different cultural backgrounds, migration experiences and settlement issues of African women.

Presentations include dance, arts and crafts, a coffee ceremony, henna decoration, and, of course, there will be delicious Halal African food.

“When African women migrate to Australia, they are not only required to learn a new language but a whole new way of life,” said Rumia Abbas, FARREP Community Worker at Women’s Health West.

“The number of East African refugee settlers arriving in Victoria doubled between 2001 and 2003, with the highest percentage of African-born people settling in the Western region of Melbourne.

“Most of these new arrivals are female-headed families and research suggests that women, particularly refugee women in the outer western region, are the most disadvantaged group.
 
“There are many similarities and differences between the culture of different African countries, which raises some difficulties in the delivery of health information and advocacy for African women and their families.

“This event is about celebrating the many positive aspects of African women’s culture and about alerting service providers to culturally sensitive practices that recognise the difficulties African women face when settling in Australia.

“We hope this day helps to introduce FARREP workers as a resource for cultural and health issues for African women in the Western region affected by FGM (Female Genital Mutilation),” said Ms Abbas.

The event is hosted by Women’s Health West together with migrant and refugee African women, the United Somali Women’s Organisation, the Royal Women’s Hospital, Doutta Galla Community Health Centre, Western Region Health Centre, City West Water and African Holistic Social Services Victoria.

For more information contact Nicola Harte, Communications Co-ordinator
on 9689 9588 or email nicolah@whwest.org.au