MCWH produces a range of publications including practical guides for working with migrant and refugee communities, project reports, academic articles, government submissions and policy briefs and many other resources.
Use our topic filter below to browse some of our key resources below or type a keyword into the search bar for more specific items.
Browse publications by theme
Workshop on Engaging Faith Leaders in Prevention of gender-based violence and family violence
A panel discussion on inclusion for LGBTQIA+ people.
Overseas Student Health Care Deed Update
MCWH’s response to the 2025 OSHC Deed and its implications for international students’ access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Submission to the Inquiry into the relationship between domestic, family and sexual violence and suicide
Highlighting the need for further research and improved data collection.
Pre-Budget Submission 2026/27: Sustaining Impact
Investing in migrant and refugee women’s health equity, safety and leadership is essential for gender equality and healthier communities, systems and economies.
Annual General Meeting and Annual Report 2024 – 2025
We are pleased to present the MCWH Annual Report 2024 – 25: Stronger Together – Transforming systems to achieve health equity
End All Bias
Migrant and Refugee Women’s Experiences of the Australian Health System
Health in My Language 2024-25 Evaluation Report
Insights, lessons and recommendations from the Health in My Language Program delivery of Sexual and Reproductive Health Education.
Connecting Communities 2022-24 Evaluation Report Summary
Key lessons and recommendations from the Connecting Communities Program, undertaken in partnership with Safe + Equal.
Recorded workshop: Primary prevention with LGBTQIA+ multicultural and faith-based communities
A panel discussion on inclusion for LGBTQIA+ people.
Submission to the Inquiry into the redevelopment of Melbourne’s public housing towers
March 2025. Highlighting public housing as a social determinant of health.
Advocacy to Action – Lessons from NETFA towards the elimination of FGM/C
February 6, the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), offers a chance for all those committed to ending FGM/C to celebrate progress, forge stronger ties and reinforce our commitment to advocating for the abandonment of the…
Annual General Meeting and Annual Report 2023 – 2024
We are pleased to present the MCWH Annual Report 2023 – 24: Experts in migrant and refugee women’s health.
Together for Impact: Connecting Communities Partnership Case Study
Download ‘Together for Impact’ as a pdf Download ‘Together for Impact’ as a word document As part of the Connecting Communities Project, The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health and Safe and Equal have partnered to develop a short guide Together for…
Budget Bid 2025/26: Moving Forward Together
MCWH is calling for meaningful investment in migrant and refugee women’s health and wellbeing in the next Victorian Budget.
Community Insights: COVID-19 response and recovery for older migrant and refugee women
Based on in-depth interviews with migrant and refugee communities, MCWH has developed a new resource ‘Community Insights: COVID-19 response and recovery for older migrant and refugee women‘ to help governments and support agencies better understand the experiences of older migrants…
Connecting Communities Engaging Men Guide
A short guide developed as part of the Connecting Communities Project.
Submission to the Victorian Inquiry into Women’s Pain
Download our Submission to the Women’s Pain Inquiry as a pdf Download our Submission to the Women’s Pain Inquiry as a word document The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH) has published our submission to the Victorian Government Inquiry into…
Supporting prevention practitioners in multicultural and faith-based communities
Download ‘Supporting Wellbeing for Prevention Practitioners’ as a pdf Download ‘Supporting Wellbeing for Prevention Practitioners’ as a word document As part of the Connecting Communities Project, The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health and Safe and Equal have partnered to develop a…
Submission to the Senate Inquiry on Issues Related to Menopause and Perimenopause
Download our Submission on Issues Related to Menopause and Perimenopause as PDF Download our Submission on Issues Related to Menopause and Perimenopause as a Word Document The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH) has published our submission to the Senate…
Quality Standards for Health Education
Seven standards on which MCWH bases its model of high quality multilingual health education
Making the Links: A Guide to Working with Migrant and Refugee Communities in Primary Prevention and Early Intervention
Download ‘Making the Links Best Practice Guide’ as a pdf here Download ‘Making the Links Best Practice Guide’ as a word document here While mainstream family and domestic violence and sexual assault services have made significant strides in supporting migrant…
Communicating for Connection Values-Based Messaging Guide
Download the Community for Connectiong Values-Based Messaging guide as a Word Document Download the Community for Connectiong Values-Based Messaging guide as a PDF MCWH and Safe and Equal have launched a new resource, bringing together lessons from members of the…
Improving our approach to community-led prevention guide (2024)
A short guide on intersectional practice for those working in primary prevention with multicultural and faith-based communities.
Best practice guide for migrant and refugee inclusive disaster preparedness, response, and recovery
Nine guiding principles to inform disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts for migrant and refugee women, non-binary, and gender diverse people.
Budget Bid 2024/25: Moving Ahead Together
MCWH is calling for meaningful investment in migrant and refugee women’s health and wellbeing in the next Victorian Budget.
Annual General Meeting and Annual Report 2022 – 2023
We are pleased to present the MCWH Annual Report 2022 – 23: Strengthening migrant women’s health and wellbeing for 45 years.
Statement calling to protect the health, wellbeing and safety of civilians in Gaza
As a feminist organisation advocating for the health, wellbeing and safety of migrant and refugee women and their communities, we are deeply troubled by the situation that is unfolding in Palestine. We affirm our commitment to safeguarding women’s lives and…
Building Bridges Report Released
Building Bridges is an advocacy and research project which enables migrant and refugee people to participate in the mental health reform process and demonstrates what intersectional, targeted prevention and effective community-based programs for migrant and refugee women should look like.
Submission to the Multicultural Framework Review
MCWH recently had the opportunity to make a submission to the Multicultural Framework Review. Our submission is framed in direct response to the Multicultural Framework Review’s Terms of Reference and is based on our work with migrant and refugee women…
4 New Thai Language Resources on Family Violence
As part of the ‘Strengthening Our Collective Knowledge’ Project, MCWH has published 4 new videos in Thai on identifying different forms of family violence and what services are available to support those who have experienced family violence in Australia. These…
Set the PACE: Five ways to design leadership programs for migrant women, non-binary and gender diverse people
A best practice guide for those looking to design leadership programs for migrant women, non-binary and gender diverse people.
MCWH’s response to the Ending the Postcode Lottery Senate Report
MCWH have written a summary report of the key citations and references, specifically in relation to the outcomes of the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health’s (MCWH) submission to the Senate Inquiry into Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare and information provided by Dr Adele Murdolo, Executive Director (MCWH) at the public hearing in May 2023.
Senate Inquiry into human rights implications of recent violence in Iran
MCWH is proud to share our Submission and recommendations to the Australian Government to act to support Iranian women and people in their revolution for self-determination and freedom.
Submission to the Senate inquiry on universal access to reproductive healthcare
MCWH invites you to read and share our submission and recommendations to the Australian Senate Inquiry on Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare.
Safety and Support in My Language Project Findings Report
MCWH has launched important findings from the Safety and Support in My Language Project, which show the effectiveness of bilingual health education in violence prevention.
Annual General Meeting and Annual Report 2021-22
We are pleased to present the MCWH Annual Report 2021-22: Empower, Transform, Collaborate.
Advocacy Brief: All Together in Prevention and Response Project
Bringing together multicultural, ethno-specific and faith-based organisations working in early intervention and prevention of violence against migrant and refugee women to build their capacity and engage in collective, reflective practice.
Policy Brief: Migrant and Refugee Women’s Perinatal Mental Health
Perinatal mental health conditions are common and can affect up to one in five mothers in Australia, including people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Read our policy brief about this important issue.
Making the Links Project Outcomes and Learnings Report
MCWH is proud to release the Making the Links Project Learnings Report and Project Video.
Making the Links Podcast: Episode 7
In this episode we will be talking to Acting Senior Sergeant Maha Sukkar who became the first Muslim policewoman in Victoria to wear a hijab in 2004. We will ask Maha about her work with the multicultural community and barriers they may experience with the police.
Submission into the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Support Needs for Older Victorians from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds
We are proud to share our Submission into the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Support Needs for Older Victorians from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds. Read a Word document version of our Submission into the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Support…
Joint Submission into Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Support Needs for Older Victorians from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds
Read our recommendations to support the needs of older Victorians from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Making the Links Podcast: Episode 6
On this episode we talked with Gagan Kaur Cheema on the invaluable work health educators and bilingual workers do in the community and organisations.
Making the Links Podcast: Episode 5
In this episode, we will talk to Veena Barsiwal on family violence and its impact on victim/survivors’ mental health and well-being.
Left Behind: Migrant and Refugee Women’s Experiences of COVID-19 Report
Drawn from interviews with over 70 migrant women across Victoria, this report documents how deeply the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted migrant women.
Joint Statement by the 2021 National Women’s Safety Summit delegates representing the rights and interests of migrant and refugee women
In anticipation of the National Women’s Safety Summit on the 6 and 7 September, Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health met with nine of our sister organisations attending the conference to prepare a Joint Statement representing the rights and interests of migrant and refugee women.
2021 Sexual and Reproductive Health Data Report and ‘Act Now’ Paper
The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health is pleased to present the ‘Sexual and Reproductive Health Data Report 2021’ and accompanying ‘Act Now’ Advocacy Paper.
Executive Director’s Message: MCWH Sexual and Reproductive Health Data Report 2021
Dear MCWH partners and friends, As a leader in the health and community sector, you will be acutely aware of the impact of discrimination and inequity in people’s lives. Even though the Australian health system has been established to provide…
Challenging myths about culture and violence in migrant and refugee communities
A new resource to help challenge some of the negative ways that migrant and refugee communities are framed in discussions about violence against women.
Community Conversations: Talking about finding work in Australia
In 2020, HealthWest approached Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH) along with Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY), to work together on the Community Conversations project, to better understand and address economic inclusion, in the context of race-based discrimination and social…
MCWH State Budget submission 21/22: Equity and Wellbeing for Victorian Migrant Women
What is needed to achieve an equitable recovery from the pandemic for all Victorians, including over one million migrant and refugee women living in Victoria.
Policy Brief: Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Mental Health
This policy brief outlines the key issues pertaining to migrant and refugee women’s mental health and wellbeing, as well as considerations for mental health policy, programs and service delivery. The
Intersectionality resources to strengthen gender equality in the workplace
Some must read tips for how intersectionality helps us to understand and strengthen gender equality in the workplace!
MCWH Pre-Budget 20/21 submission: Equity and Wellbeing for Victorian Migrant Women
What is needed to achieve an equitable recovery from the pandemic for all Victorians, including over one million migrant and refugee women living in Victoria.
Submission to the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee Inquiry into the Victorian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
This submission has been developed by the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH). Introduction The Multicultural Centre for Womens’ Health (MCWH) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to comment on the Victorian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as…
Key Contacts in Migrant Women’s Prevention of Violence resource
For decades, migrant women have been preventing and responding to violence in migrant communities, fostering women’s leadership and holding men accountable to gender equality work. Yet, much of these efforts have been under-represented and under-funded. We are therefore so thrilled…
MCWH reads: Adele’s bedside stack
We love our books here at MCWH, and our Executive Director, Adele Murdolo has a great bedside stack! She’s currently reading: Bagheria by Dacia Maraini AM: I’m enjoying Maraini’s feminist memoir at the moment because it allows me to…
Submission to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health Services
MCWH is proud to advocate for better Victorian mental health services, support and access to information for migrant and refugee women.
Sexual and reproductive health videos and fact sheets in Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Dari, Karen, Punjabi, Somali, Tamil, Vietnamese, Hakha Chin, Dari, Somali and Urdu
MCWH is very proud to have developed a suite of reproductive and sexual health education fact sheets and videos in partnership with Family Planning Victoria. The resources have been developed in 13 languages: Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Dari, Karen, Punjabi, Somali,…
Gambling awareness brochures in Assyrian, Dari, Hazaragi, Punjabi, Tamil and simple English
MCWH has worked in collaboration with community organisations in Victoria, project partners and the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation to produce five new factsheets to raise awareness about gambling and potential harms related to gambling and gaming. “How does gambling affect…
Stillbirth Research and Education Final Report
We feel very honoured to have been mentioned in the final report of the Senate Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education. MCWH congratulates the Committee on their important work and looks forward to seeing the impact of the report…
Framing violence prevention in meaningful ways
In collaboration with Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (DVRCV), MCWH developed a handy tip sheet for anyone working to prevent violence against women.
Building a healthy future for migrant women in Victoria forum
Making links between research, practice and policy is always satisfying. That’s exactly what we achieved at the MCWH ‘Building a healthy future for migrant women in Victoria’ forum yesterday. Facilitated by award-winning journalist and filmmaker, Santilla Chingaipe, the…
Submission to the Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education
Submission to the Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education Inquiry into the future of stillbirth research and education in Australia This submission has been developed by the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH), the national voice for immigrant and…
Intersectionality Matters: A guide to engaging immigrant and refugee communities to prevent violence against women
A resource for violence prevention practitioners working with immigrant and refugee communities on prevention activities.
Submission to the Victorian Family and Community Development Committee Public Inquiry into Perinatal Services
This submission has been developed by the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH), the national voice for immigrant and refugee women’s health and wellbeing. The term ‘immigrant and refugee’ refers to people who have migrated from overseas, and their children.…
Introducing our Strategic Plan 2016-2020
We are very pleased and excited to present the 2016-2020 Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH)
Joint submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission on Elder Abuse
The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health and the University of Melbourne provided the following submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission Inquiry on Elder Abuse. The submission draws on recent research showing that elder abuse is gendered and immigrant and…
Submission to the Victorian Gender Equality Strategy (2016)
MCWH is proud to share our submission to the Victorian Gender Equality Strategy, which was endorsed by eleven regional and state-wide women’s organisations including: Women’s Health In the North; Women’s Health in the Southeast; Women’s Health East; Women’s Health West;…
New international evidence on violence in immigrant and refugee communities
A review of international evidence published today has confirmed that migration helps make immigrant and refugee women more vulnerable to men’s violence against women. Violence occurs in all communities and cultures across Australia, but immigrant and refugee women face structural…
Supporting women's right to choose
MCWH is one of forty organisations that has signed on to an open letter to the Premier regarding abortion laws. Immigrant and refugee already face significant barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services and MCWH welcomes the government’s commitment…
Royal Commission into Family Violence – Day #17
Today is Day #17 of the Royal Commission and the focus is on looking at diversity of experiences, community attitudes and structural impediments surrounding family violence. Of particular interest to MCWH is the examination of family violence and prevention within the…
ReMINDer Resource Kit – A Handy Guide for International Students
MCWH were happy to be recent sponsors of Monash University’s Student Placement Program. We welcomed two international students, Tiffany and Yan, who were working on their 4th year project, “Mind your Mind”. As one of the project deliverables, Tiffany and…
Submission to the Royal Commission into Family Violence (2015)
Violence against women occurs in all Victorian communities and across all cultures. There are clear differences in the way that violence is enacted across cultures and social contexts, but no one immigrant/refugee community or culture is any more violent than…
Sharing our Strengths: Where to from here for FGM/C prevention?
Last WRAP we lamented that your average, news-loving Australian is unlikely to learn about the complex issues related to ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) because, too often, that kind of complexity is pushed out in favour of some good-old heart-pumping,…
2014 CEDAW Shadow Report Consultation
Last week MCWH co-hosted an important discussion focusing on immigrant and refugee women’s rights with Diaspora Action Australia and YWCA Australia. YWCA Australia led the consultation as part of the development of the 2014 United Nations Convention to End All Forms of Discrimination…
Our Voices: Filling the Gaps FGM Spokesperson Project
This week MCWH was honoured to welcome African Women Australia (AWAU) to our Melbourne training room to conduct a component of their national FGM Spokesperson Project. Juliana Nkrumah and Paula Abood worked together with 7 Melbourne-based African women to frame…
A model for FGM/C Community Education in Victoria
The Victorian FGM/C program, the Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program (FARREP), is under review. The aim of the review is to address a range of changes and challenges that have been identified over the 13 years of the program’s…
MWHA Roundtable: Building a national picture of immigrant and refugee women's health
Last week MCWH hosted a two-day roundtable for members of our national multicultural women’s health network, which has been developed as part of the the Multicultural Women’s Health Australia program. The occasion provided a rare opportunity to survey the current…
Australian Human Rights Commission Roundtable in Melbourne on increasing CALD women’s voices
In 2011 the Australian Human Rights Commission hosted a successful study tour undertaken by the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women in Australia. You can read about the some of the outcomes of that tour, including the AHRC Report,…
Position Paper on International Student Access to Pregnancy-Related Care
Through the On Your Own research project we undertook in 2011 with international students in Melbourne, we found that the minimum requirements of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Deed pose significant obstacles to female international students who fall pregnant…
Launch of the Bbkayi Report
Bbkayi means Baby plus two in Cantonese. It’s the title of a report which outlines the enablers and barriers for Chinese women in the City of Whitehorse to access antenatal, maternal and parent support. The study found that family and…
Position Paper on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
February 6 is the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM/C, and an important opportunity for us all to affirm our commitment to improving the rights, safety and health of women and girls around the globe. To mark the day,…
Common Threads Report and Best Practice Guide Launched by Maria Vamvakinou
On 4 December the Federal Member for Calwell, Maria Vamvakinou MP, launched the MCWH Common Threads Report and Best Practice Guide in Melbourne. Vamvakinou launched the publications on behalf of the Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek, and spoke passionately about…
Tasmanian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Advocacy Project Report
A new report funded by the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services has been published as part of the national Points of Departure project initiated by MCWH. The Tasmanian Project aimed to further increase advocacy skills through workshops with…