DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS BIRTHING WITH MAMA
Louise Logan – MAP Social Work
International families who are residing in Australia on international student visas are isolated from family back home, and have several stressors impacting on them, including visa eligibility, university commitments and financial constraints. On top of this they have limited emotional and social supports to draw on.
MAP at MAMA can offer one off- single sessions- working with these women or couples – starting with their most pressing need, and also providing culturally sensitive education and information on emotional health and common, treatable mental health issues like anxiety , depression or grief – that doesn’t have to be seen as shameful.
Working with diverse groups can mean involving interpreter services or using translated materials, but can be spoken to with clients from an empowering platform- offering “talking from the heart” with a social worker about impacts of stressors on emotional wellbeing and also practical supports for making everyday life in a new place easier.
Referring yourself or asking your midwife to refer you to MAP social work through MAMA can be done through:
-Allied health vouchers at MAMA
-Private health insurance rebates for counselling (pending eligibility)
The cost is for a single session is $120 which usually takes 75 minutes. This includes both risk and protective factor assessment as well as advocacy and supported linkages, advice and education about community services for social supports (ranging from mental health supports to practical supports) to support mobilising local services (ie local council Maternal Child Health Nursing after 6 weeks).
MAP social work works from Kensington on Thursday’s but also can see clients who have limited transport at Caulfeild – Tuesdays.
Otherwise please feel free to call me for more information directly on 0477587991.
