Working with African communities

The Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program (FARREP) at Women's Health West (WHW)

Women's Health West (WHW) works with African women and girls from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds through our Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program (FARREP.

FARREP is a state wide program first established in 1998 in response to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) link to FGM fact sheet (DHS 2009). FARREP builds stronger community links and supports for women and girls, empowering them to improve their own wellbeing by giving them appropriate health information. Through FARREP, we advocate for women with health and other services, and improve services through professional development across the western region.

Located within the Health Promotion Research and Development team at Women's Health West, FARREP services include:

Community education

Women's Health West FARREP program provides community information sessions for African women from communities affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Information sessions focus on women's health and wellbeing. Sessions are facilitated by an experienced FARREP worker and include the use of culturally appropriate resources. Contact us for a general enquiry.

Professional Development

Women's Health West FARREP program provides professional development training on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) for health professionals and relevant organisations and individuals upon request. Training focuses on the social and cultural aspects of FGM to build the capacity and expertise of services working with women and girls affected by or at risk of being affected by FGM. Contact us for professional development training.

Secondary Consultation

Women's Health West FARREP workers provide secondary consultation (link to FARREP contacts) and advice on cultural context of FGM, culturally appropriate service provision and information on relevant services and community groups in the western metropolitan region of Melbourne. Contact us for a secondary consultation.

Women's Health West FARREP workers also offer consultative advice and assistance to organisations interested in developing and delivering culturally appropriate and suitable sexual and reproductive health education programs to young African women.

WHW FARREP PUBLICATIONS

Mama and Nunu 2 (Mother and Baby) Information manual for health professionals and service providers working with African women, particularly during pregnancy and childbirth (including those affected by FGM)

Family Harmony: Understanding family violence in Somali and Eritrean communities in the Western Region of Melbourne 2005. This innovative community-based research explored issues of family violence in Somali and Eritrean communities in the Western Region, with a view to providing better services to these communities.

An Information sheet (40KB) about Female Genital Mutilation

An Information sheet (1.32MB) about African Women's Cross Cultural Exchange Day that can be used by service providers to adopt more culturally sensitive practices that recognise the difference in cultrue among African Communities.

Women's Helth West Newsletter Read our latest newsletter for updates on our work, health issues and more. WHW News

PREVIOUS WHW FARREP EVENTS AND PROJECTS

Cross Cultural Exchange Day 2008.

African women shared with service providers the different cultural backgrounds, migration experiences and settlement issues of African women.

Family Harmony Project 2004-2005.

This innovative community-based research explored issues of family violence in Somali and Eritrean communities in the Western Region, with a view to providing better services to these communities.

FIND OUT MORE

For more information about FARREP, FARREP services, or if you would like to be included on our newsletter mailing list contact us during business hours on 9689 9588 or view the attached links FARREP Links