Health Promotion and Research Project Officer
Nigisti Mulholland BA (Honours Sociology), MA Social Work (by research)

Multicultural Centre for Women's Health has provided me with experiences that have contributed to my continuing interest in working with immigrant and refugee women's and children's health. (I have been associated with MCWH since 2002 )

I began my career as a nurse-midwife in Ethiopia during its civil war. In 1980 I fled to Sudan as a refugee where I worked for Save the Children Fund. In 1982 I was resettled in the USA, and then moved to Melbourne where I worked as a nurse and studied social sciences. In 1989 I left Australia for 12 years, living in Geneva and The Gambia, West Africa. Since returning to Melbourne, I have worked on many projects, mostly about immigrant and refugee women's and children's health.

My career has focused on preventative health care, health promotion, and lifting the barriers that stop women from immigrant and refugee communities from accessing health care.

I am currently working on MCWH's Alcohol Project which is aimed at reducing risky alcohol consumption in culturally and linguistic diverse communities. The project is a joint partnership with Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre and the Northern Division of GPs. Multicultural Centre for Women's Health is focused on the community engagement and education components of the project.