WHISE aims to improve women's health and well-being in the Southern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne, which includes the City of Greater Dandenong where over 13,700 refugees and migrants from countries like Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Burma have settled in the past 5 years. WHISE provided IT training to refugee and migrant women, with a 12 week program teaching basic computer skills and advancing to skills like using Skype and Facebook. The training helped reduce isolation and increase social connection for the women by allowing them to connect with family, friends, and others from similar backgrounds.

1. Using social media and
electronic communication to
enhance the lives of refugee
and migrant women

2. Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) is the
regional women’s health service for the Southern
Metropolitan Region.
WHISE aims to improve the health and well-being of
women in the Southern Metropolitan Region of
Melbourne within a Social Model of Health and within
a feminist perspective.
The Southern Metropolitan Region comprises of 10
Local Government Area’s

3. Local Government Areas
Victoria Women’s Health Program Services : Metropolitan Areas
*Adapted by Women’s Health Victoria with permission from the Department of Human Services 2012

4. City of Greater Dandenong
 60% of residents born overseas
 150 different birthplaces
 55% of residents from non–English speaking
backgrounds.
(Brown , H & Smith, M 2013, A profile of health and wellbeing in Greater Dandenong, City of Greater
Dandenong, Melbourne).

5. City of Greater Dandenong
 13,700 refugee and migrants have made the City of
Greater Dandenong home in the past 5 years.¹
 Most refugees/humanitarian entrants came from
Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Burma, followed by large
numbers from Iraq, Pakistan and Cambodia.²
 The past 12 months have seen a rapid increase in
community detainees, made up mostly of people
from Sri Lanka, Iran and Afghanistan.³
Notes
1. (Brown , H & Smith, M 2013, A profile of health and wellbeing in Greater Dandenong, City of Greater
Dandenong, Melbourne).
2. (Newcombe, J & Achren, L 2010, CALD Settlement and ACE Possibilities: Southern Metropolitan Region,
AMES, Melbourne.
3. (Department of Immigration and Citizenship 2013, ‘Immigration Detention Statistics Summary’,
http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/detention/facilities/statistics/).

6. Issues
 Limited English language skills
 Limited work and education opportunities
 Unfamiliarity of the Australian culture and local
area
 Existing physical and mental health conditions
 Separation from loved ones
 Loss of family connections and community support
 Social isolation.

7. IT Training
 Provided training for refugee and migrant women
 12 week program of small groups
 Affordable option to connect to the virtual world
 Started with basic computer and advanced to
Internet, Skype and facebook
 Received a certificate at completion.

8. 23
9
20
14
22
12 11
22
Demographics
6
3 2
38
Number of Participants
Other countries include:
Croatia, Singapore, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Germany, Greece, Holland,
Pakistan, Vietnam

9. Age Group
6
45
Number of Participants
25
46
40
20
20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70+

10. Students

11. Outcomes
 Made new friends with other participants
 Made new friends in the virtual world
 Connected with old friends and family members
 Opportunity to get out of the house
 Reduced feelings of isolation
 Talked to others with similar backgrounds
 Increased their sense of social connection
 More confident
 Feeling more part of the community.

13. 15 Scott Street.
Dandenong. Vic. 3175
www.whise.org.au
Helena Bishop
hbishop@whise.org.au
Deb Pugsley
dpugsley@whise.org.au