Act Now to Advance Health Equity: Launch of Sexual and Reproductive Health Data Report and 'Act Now' paper

The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health is pleased to invite researchers, clinicians, community practitioners, policy makers and advocates to attend the launch of two key resources: 'Sexual and Reproductive Health Data Report 2021' and ‘Act Now to advance health equity for migrant and refugee women’s sexual and reproductive health.’

The Report and ‘Act Now’ paper will be launched by The Hon. Greg Hunt, Minister for Health and Aged Care via a specially prepared video message.

Migrant and refugee women regularly experience inequitable access to services and poorer sexual and reproductive health outcomes than non-Indigenous Australian-born women in the Australian health systems. Following the launch of the Report and 'Act Now' paper, we will have a facilitated panel discussion exploring some key questions and issues that the documents evoke:

• what does the current research and data tell us about migrant and refugee women’s sexual and reproductive health?
• what are the most pressing issues for migrant and refugee women in terms of their sexual and reproductive health? 
• what can be done to advance health equity for migrant and refugee women in Australia?

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about migrant and refugee women’s health in Australia from experts in the field.

Speakers:

Dr Tamara Kwarteng, Multicultural Centre for Women's Health, Board Chair

Dr Tamara Kwarteng has been the Chair of the Board of MCWH since February 2018. She has a PhD in Molecular Biochemistry and a Graduate Diploma in Epidemiology. Tamara has extensive international experience and expertise in health promotion, health education, project management and co-ordination. She has been Deputy Director of the Centre for International Health at the Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health in Melbourne and was Team Leader of the Pacific Regional HIV&AIDS Project (PRHP) spanning 14 countries.

Tamara lived in Fiji for over ten years and was appointed Pacific Regional Director of the Burnet Institute’s Pacific Office in 2009. She is now an independent consultant providing technical advice in public health program design, monitoring and evaluation.

Dr Nisha Khot (Former Clinical Director of Obstetrics at Djerriwarrh Health Service, RANZCOG Councillor Victoria)

Dr. Nisha Khot is the (former) Clinical Director of Obstetrics at Djerriwarrh Health Service in Victoria. She trained in India and UK before moving to Australia in 2010. She is currently one of four Victorian RANZCOG Councillors and is a member of the Women’s Health and SIMG committees. Nisha is passionate about health equity and promoting diversity in health leadership.

Bonney Corbin (Chair of the Australian Women's Health Network and Head of Policy at Marie Stopes Australia)

Bonney Corbin is the Chair of the Australian Women’s Health Network and Head of Policy at Marie Stopes Australia. Bonney is an urban and regional planner with postgraduate qualifications in public policy and conflict resolution. Bonney has a number of genetic mutations linked to her family in Guernsey including BRCA1, and as a dual citizen she has accessed cancer care across countries. Bonney is passionate about community centred healthcare reform that enables bodily autonomy and self-determination.

Andrea Creado (Chief Executive Officer at Ishar Multicultural Women's Health Services, Western Australia)

Andrea Creado has been the CEO of Ishar since 2007. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Development and a Bachelor of Psychology and she has significant training in business, resource, finance and personnel management. Andrea has experience in leading people and programs in both government and the non-government community-based health services sector. Her particular focus is on the development and delivery of policies, programs and services that are tailored to meet the needs of migrant and refugee populations.

Andrea migrated to Australia from India in 2001 and can speak Hindi and English.

Michou Kadima (Community Development Worker, Bicultural Community Health Program, Australian Red Cross, Tasmania)

Michou Kadima is a Community Development Worker and the Coordinator of the Red Cross Bicultural Community Health Program in Northern Tasmania. The program consists of six bicultural workers from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds who provide culturally appropriate health education and information to migrant and refugee families and communities. Michou has been in this role for 5 years.

Facilitated by Santilla Chingaipe. 

Santilla Chingaipe is a journalist, filmmaker and author, whose work explores colonialism, slavery and post-colonial migration. Santilla is a regular contributor to The Saturday Paper, and serves as a member of the Federal Government’s Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations. She is the recipient of several awards, and was recognised at the United Nations as one of the most influential people of African descent in the world in 2019. Her first book of non-fiction detailing the untold stories of African convicts, is forthcoming, and a documentary based on the book, Our African Roots, airs in October on SBS.

Event details

Date: 4 August, 2021 

Time: 2pm - 3pm (AEST)

Registration is essential. For more information about the event, please contact Maria at maria@mcwh.com.au 

Acknowledgement of Country

MCWH acknowledges and pays respect to the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, on whose land the documents were written. Sovereignty was never ceded.

Multicultural Women's Health Australia

This event is hosted by the Multicultural Centre for Women's Health (MCWH) for the Multicultural Women's Health Australia program (MWHA). MWHA is made up of a network of services in Australia with a shared commitment to migrant and refugee women's health. 

We acknowledge the financial support provided by the Commonwealth Department of Health for the implementation of the MWHA program.