New multicultural women's health centre in Mirrabooka

A new multicultural women's health centre in Mirrabooka would provide for the special needs for women from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, Women's Interests and Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Minister Judyth Watson said today.

Opening the Mirrabooka Multicultural Women's Health Centre, Dr Watson said the project was the result of keen community interest in a centre which could address the needs of women from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Mirrabooka was identified as being most in need of a multicultural women's health centre because of its high population of non-English speaking women.

"Women from non-English speaking backgrounds need services which are responsive to their particular needs.  Cultural or religious issues can create particular demands and difficulties," Dr Watson said.

She said the new centre would offer help to local organisations and could also assist local GPs and other health service providers with the provision of multilingual resources. 

The centre would have strong ties with local voluntary and ethnic organisations and would develop community education programs, training packages for volunteers and resource kits.

"One of the major factors which contributes to the day-to-day difficulties experienced by many women from a non-English speaking background is that of isolation.

"In order to overcome this isolation women need practical information which will give them the confidence and knowledge to link into mainstream agencies or to access more specialist support," Dr Watson said.

The Minister said the Mirrabooka centre would provide the centrepiece for a new and important network for women in the region.

It would also be the base for one of five metropolitan 'outposts' of the new Women's Information Service.  An officer from the information service would work from the centre one day each week enabling access to a wide range of information for women.