Workplace Health for Immigrant and Refugee Women
Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health Seminar Series 2010
Thursday 25 November 2010

What will participants learn by attending this Seminar?
The final seminar of 2010 will address issues that immigrant and refugee women face in the workplace and the implications for their health and wellbeing. Issues that will be covered during the seminar include: stress, anxiety, violence, bullying and discrimination. The seminar will also cover the large growth in temporary migrant work in Australia; overseas students and work rights; and the working holiday visa. 

Who will benefit from participating in this Seminar? 
Health and allied professionals, welfare and community development workers, social workers, teachers, students and those with an interest in the health and wellbeing of immigrant and refugee women. 

GUEST SPEAKERS

Professor Santina Bertone has been researching immigration and work since the 1990s. She led the Workplace Studies Centre for over a decade, winning grants and publishing on: immigrant women, industrial restructuring, immigrants and trade unions, and managing diversity. Santina was also a longstanding executive member of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, and has held other community and government roles. She was awarded the Centenary of Federation Medal in 2008, and participated in the Australia 2002 Summit. Santina held various leadership positions at Victoria University before joining Swinburne University of Technology as Associate Dean (Research). 

Professor Bertone’s presentation will focus on the large growth in temporary migrant work that has occurred as a result of the increase of the 457 long-stay visas and the expansion in the number of overseas students having work rights in Australia. She will also speak about the ongoing growth of the working holiday visa. 

Jennifer O’Donnell-Pirisi is the Women’s Officer at the Victorian Trades Hall Council. Jennifer provides support to a VTHC Women’s Committee concerned with matters affecting working women. She also runs the Anna Stewart Memorial Program (an on-the-job training program that raises women’s awareness of unions and encourages women to better understand and better participate in unions—including at an operation level. The program encourages all women including immigrant women).

Jennifer’s presentation will focus on the push for a domestic violence workplace entitlement clause and related equal pay provisions to be included in enterprise agreements which is a central focus of the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse, Domestic Violence Workplace Rights and Entitlements Project.