The Multicultural Health & Support Service (MHSS) is a state-wide program of the North Richmond Community Health Centre. MHSS was established in 2003 to work with and empower CALD communities, individuals and groups to achieve better health outcomes in relation to the diverse, highly complex and culturally sensitive issues relating to blood-borne (BBV) and sexually transmissible infections (STI).
At MHSS we are committed to:

• Respect, compassion and acceptance of all people
• Flexible, accessible, non-judgemental service delivery
• Working in partnership with multicultural and mainstream service organisations and communities
• Culturally sensitive, transparent and professional service delivery

MHSS is currently funded to work with three communities; however future planning will include emerging CALD communities.  We presently work with individuals, families and community groups from:

• Southeast Asia – with a focus on the Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese communities
• East Africa – mainly from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan
• Arabic-speaking - represented by the Arab League of Nations with communities from 22 countries including Iraq, Yemen, Morocco, Lebanon and Egypt

MHSS’ culturally diverse workforce has helped develop a unique understanding and experience of cultural diversity that position us to:

• Improve service access
• Work with diverse cultural values
• Ensure future capacity
• Produce measurable results

MHSS works to achieve better health outcomes by focusing on reducing the risk of transmission of BBV/STI in CALD communities, and working with multicultural and mainstream health and related services regarding culturally sensitive service provision. We do this through a partnership and capacity building approach that incorporates three key programs:

1.  Outreach Support
MHSS provides support to individuals and their families to access mainstream health services for testing, treatment, prevention, ongoing management and/or information related to HIV, hepatitis and STI.  In addition to working with CALD communities, MHSS is committed to developing collaborative relationships that assist relevant organisations to provide effective and culturally appropriate services.

2.  Community Education
MHSS delivers community education to groups, services, organisations and communities, providing targeted and culturally appropriate information regarding sexuality and drug use or risk behaviours to help break down taboos and to promote prevention and harm minimisation.

3.  Community Action
MHSS mobilises community action to raise awareness on issues relating to BBV/STI in CALD communities and advocate for change by supporting and developing community initiatives and raising public awareness through campaigning, networking and lobbying.

Contact numbers are as follows:

All our services are confidential and free of charge and clients do not require a referral.

MHSS values client and community feedback and we are interested in and listen to all advice and suggestions. We monitor and evaluate continually to ensure we provide a meaningful service that delivers the absolute best to our communities.