Media Release 21 August 2003

'CHIKA TAYO: LET'S TALK'

INNOVATIVE FILIPINO RADIO DRAMAS TACKLE WOMEN'S ISSUES

Women's Health West will launch an innovative resource for the Filipino community: a CD of three radio plays about women's health, at 5pm on Tuesday 26 August at Women's Health West, 317-319 Barkly St Footscray.

Community radio is an important source of information for Melbourne's Filipino community. Radio dramas in particular are an ideal - and culturally appropriate - way to communicate messages about women's health, family planning and sexual health.

"Radio is something many Filipinas enjoy whether they are at work, caring for children, or busy at home," says Maria Selga, one of the Filipino volunteers involved with the project. "Women may identify with the characters in a drama and listen to the information it contains, especially when the drama is in their first language."

The CD is called Chika Tayo, which means "Let's Talk" in Filipino language (also called Tagalog). The radio plays relied on input from a range of Filipino women involved in the reference group, from coming up with the original idea to acting out the dramas themselves.

The three dramas have very different settings: a kitchen, a ballroom dancing class, and a party. However the common theme, according to Ms Selga, is that, "it's okay for women to seek support. You don't have to carry the world on your shoulders."

"One of the characters is a young mother who is pregnant with her third child," says Ms Selga. "Another is a woman caring for her elderly relatives. In the Philippines these women would often have the support of an extended family. In Australia, many women feel burdened, often having to combine paid work with caring for their families."

The three dramas explore issues such as pregnancy, menopause and relationship conflict; women as carers for children and elderly relatives; and differing beliefs around family planning and sexual health, including talking to your children about these issues. Each includes a description of the kinds of services that can help, such as occasional child care, women's health nurses, community health centres and recreational groups for older people.

Project funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services Family Planning Project 2003. Chika Tayo - Let's Talk will be launched at Women's Health West, 317-319 Barkly St Footscray from 5pm on Tuesday 26 August by Melba Marginson, who is a Commissioner for the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Chair of the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition.

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MEDIA CONTACT

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact our Chief Executive Officer Melissa Afentoulis or our Communications Officer on 9689 9588 or via email.