This seminar is part of the Multicultural Centre for Women's Health's 2009 seminar series.

Participants will learn about traditional practices, procedures and beliefs affecting young immigrant and refugee women's health and wellbeing. Seminar topics include early marriage; forced marriage; FGM; unplanned pregnancy; and traditional practices related to pregnancy and childbearing.

Resources available to young immigrant and refugee women in diverse communities and the service providers who support them will also be covered.

Guest speaker Professor Lenore Manderson, PhD FASSA FWAAS, is a medical anthropologist and social historian. Although much of her work has been conducted outside of Australia, she also possesses thirty years of experience researching issues related to immigrant Australians, including immigrants from Vietnam, Thailand, The Philippines, Turkey, Sahel Africa, and the Middle East. Her research has included projects on gender, sexuality, and reproductive and sexual health.

In collaboration with colleagues in both Queensland and Victoria she has developed guidelines and manuals to enhance access to health services for immigrant and refugee communities. These resources focus on issues such as ensuring quality of care and providing culturally safe programs to immigrant and refugee communities.

Lenore is Research Professor both in the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, and School of Political and Social Inquiry, Faculty of Arts, at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.

Professor Manderson will address the topic of 'Traditional Practices Affecting Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Health and Wellbeing' in the context of her years of experience and research with immigrant and refugee communities both locally and globally.

Source: http://www.healthnews.infoxchange.net.au