About Us
ABRISA was founded in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 9th December 2002. It emerged from a study about “Healthcare Culture of Brazilian Immigrant Women in Australia”, developed in Melbourne. This study consisted of interviews and focus groups developed with Brazilian women from July 2002 to February 2003. From the interviews a list of needs emerged.

Based on negotiation with the participants, meetings were held once a month, at various residences.

The purpose of the meetings was to create a space for reflection about the causes and solutions for problems that were prominent among the group, such as:

1) Lack of interaction among members of the Brazilian community and of integration to the Australia society;

2) Lack of social support to face health problems, among them, depression, panic attack, cancer and asthma; and

3) Socio-cultural, economic and political barriers to access the Australian health care services.

The conclusion was that the creation of a Brazilian community centre could help the main causes of a chain of health problems. The group of women decided to be proactive and to become an association. This association would be the first port of call for those Brazilian and Portuguese speaking immigrants, newly arrived in Australia, as well as any other member of those communities resident in this country.

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