Working with multicultural communities
Select a language for details on SHine SA services and how to talk to someone through an interpreter.
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At SHine SA we aim to:
- provide effective and culturally appropriate sexual health services, information and education and continue to work with qualified interpreter services
- provide teaching and educational resources in languages other than English
- strengthen partnerships with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, their communities and representative agencies
- provide education to workers and advocate for culturally appropriate approaches to delivering sexual health services in other agencies
- develop, implement and evaluate programs and projects in partnerships with mutlicultural communities and agencies
- participate in workshops, conferences and special events to raise awareness about cross-cultural issues and sexual health
Multicultural Women's Project
The Multicultural Women's Project was a peer education program for women from African, Middle Eastern, Burmese or other refugee backgrounds, who were interested in learning about women's health issues, so they could teach and support other women in their community. The project was run by SHine SA and the Migrant Health Service with funding from SA Cervix Screening.
The aims of this project were:
- to increase the knowledge and understanding of women from refugee backgrounds regarding sexual and reproductive health issues and the importance of women's health screening
- to improve the participation rates of women from refugee backgrounds in cervical screening programs and improve access to appropriate women's health services
Multicultural Women's Peer Education Project Interim Report
Multicultural Women's Peer Education Project Final Report
For more information contact Jacqueline on 8300 5330.
Working with African communities
We work with newly-arrived women from African communities including Sierra Leone, Congo, Liberia and Burundi. Sessions are run to inform participants about the importance of women's health check-ups such as breast examination, Pap smears, STIs and to highlight SHine SA services.
Working with Middle Eastern communities
We work with young women and mothers from Iraq and Afghanistan to increase their awareness of sexual health issues such as women's health check-ups, contraception, STIs and SHine SA services. This group of women has been experiencing isolation, language barriers and settlement issues. We feel that it is important to work in close collaboration with bi-cultural workers who work with these women to break down their isolation, increase their self-esteem and enhance their confidence to access women's health services.
Working as multicultural peer educators
Two recent successful programs involved young women working as multicultural peer educators within their communities, getting the message across about sexual health. You can read their stories here. Multicultural peer education
Cross-Cultural Issues & Sexual Health workshop
SHine SA has developed a 2-day workshop for workers and community members who work with migrants and refugees. It aims to increase the capacity of those who provide welfare, education, health and sexual health services to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. For more information see Cross-Cultural Issues & Sexual Health workshop.
Information and resources
The following organisations provide multilingual information on sexual and reproductive health issues:
- SA Cervix Screening Program
- BreastScreen SA
- Clinic 275
- Multicultural Centre for Women's Health
- Health Translations Directory
- South Australian Refugee Health Network
A range of books and DVDs on sexual health and relationships for multicultural communities is available from the SHine SA Library. SHine SA multicultural resources are also provided below to view and download.