GenWest’s Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program (FARRAP) has doubled in capacity thanks to boost funding from the Victorian Government.
We are delivering information to young women from countries affected by female genital circumcision or cutting (FGC), as well as delivering professional development to clinicians in health settings.
Prior to the boost funding, GenWest had suspended delivery of our community-based program with young African women. This funding has supported us to re-launch this important program in Melbourne’s west.
Reaching young African women from countries affected by FGC
The Young African Women’s Program provides culturally responsive sexual and reproductive health education, as well as wellbeing, leadership and self-advocacy skills to participants. The program works to develop attitudes and behaviours among communities that promote the elimination of FGC practice.
The team are currently engaging with these communities, seeking their input into program content and design. The program will be delivered in the coming months and will be tailored to the needs of young women from FGC practicing countries.
Increasing awareness of FGC in health settings
We have developed and delivered two training sessions with staff the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Sunshine. The training was attended by 31 participants.
The training supports practitioners to understand what FGC is, and how they can identify, respond to and support women who have experienced female genital cutting.
“[The training had] clear language about appropriate terms to use when speaking about FGC with patients”
FARREP training participant
Supporting professional development and a firsthand response in hospitals
Our FARREP team is also in a process of re-establishing an FGC Health Response Steering Committee at Western Health, and the African wellness clinic.
The Steering Committee supports professional development and culturally responsive practice.
The African wellness clinic enables a firsthand response and support for African women’s health needs, and supports appropriate referral needs for individual women who might have had FGC.
“Great presentation! The work within this space is incredibly valuable and so much needed”
FARREP training participant
Involvement in research to improve cultural safety in maternity care
We are also participating in a research project with Deakin University and Western Hospital, called ‘Maternity care of migrant women from refugee backgrounds – ensuring cultural safety and relevance’, to support better health outcomes for pregnant and birthing women from FGC practicing countries.
Supporting colleagues in Western Australia
The FARREP professional development team have also delivered online training on FGC to a sexual health service in Perth. The training supported the participating organisation understand the specific support needs for women and their community.
To find out more about FARREP, visit our health & wellbeing programs section.
