sister2sister was created to address low levels of awareness about sexual and reproductive health among young women from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
Developed through a partnership between government and community organisations, sister2sister makes use of the traditional ways of sharing information in African cultures.
Workers from MHSS, the Department of Human Services and the Centre for Multicultural Youth acted as the ‘older sisters' who would help to guide program participants (‘younger sisters') on a journey to discover what it means to be a healthy woman.
The pilot program in 2009 involved six after-school sessions with 10 Ethiopian and Sudanese young women. Sessions covered:
- The body map (the reproductive system, menstruation, using bras)
- Relationships
- Cycle of sexual health (including STIs, pregnancy and contraception)
- Responsible decision making and negotiation within relationships
- The health race (tours of youth-friendly health services)
- Impact your world (conclusion and celebration)
The young women were able to build positive relationships within the group, and kept photo scrapbooks and other personal records of the program.
The facilitators liaised frequently with participants' guardians and community leaders to ensure that the program had widespread family and community support.
Read the evaluation report for sister2sister.
Participants' comments
sister2sister participants provided very positive feedback on the program and its impact on their lives.
- "The program helps you get on with your life. What I mean is that it helps you know what you don't know about life."
- "If you attend this program you will experience a new life, a life that is safer than the life you had before. It helps you learn about sex, whether you're ready to do it or not."
Program partners
sister2sister was created through a partnership between the Refugee Minor Program at the Department of Health, the Multicultural Health & Support Service and the Centre for Multicultural Youth.