In 2018 the Network underwent a restructure to be better able to monitor and respond to issues arising, increase transparency of processes and provide greater opportunities for participation in Network activities. The Network executive group was formed at this time.
The purpose of the Network’s executive group is to:
- Drawing on input from the Network’s participants refine, endorse and monitor the Network’s strategic plan and work plan.
- Provide strategic direction and oversight of the Network’s activities, through:
- engagement and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders,
- needs identification and prioritisation,
- defining boundaries of Network activities, and
- evaluation of the functioning and impact of the Network.
- Provide oversight of the Network’s resources.
- Provide endorsement of the Network’s products.
2019 executive group meeting dates:
- 6 June
- 10 October
Meeting minutes
2019
2018
Victorian Refugee Health Network restructure (April 2018)
Membership
Jacquie McBride (co-chair)
- Area of expertise represented: Health service system
- Joined the executive group: July 2018
Jacqueline McBride has a background in allied health, practicing as a speech pathologist before moving into health management. Jacqueline is currently the Manager of Monash Health Refugee Health and Wellbeing. Within this role, Jacqueline has demonstrated a commitment to service and program development that incorporates principles of co-design to improve service access, care delivery, and patient experience outcomes.Jacqueline has extensive knowledge and experience in all areas of refugee health and wellbeing, including health and social issues, barriers to care and community integration, and policy. As such, Jacqueline has been instrumental in the establishment of strategic regional partnerships to enhance the coordination of services to best meet community need. This has included holding the position of Deputy Chair of the Victorian Refugee Health Network, and participating in the Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Partnership. Jacqueline has also actively contributed to education and research in the field of refugee health.
Sheenagh McShane (co-chair)
- Area of expertise represented: Health service for people seeking asylum
- Joined the executive group: July 2018
Sheenagh McShane has worked in the asylum seeker sector since 2006. She is the Health Program Manager at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) and leads a team of 70 volunteers and staff. Sheenagh’s primary interests are health literacy and the health status of people seeking asylum in Victoria. She also has a particular interest in service system reform and development.
Jacinta Bongiorno
- Area of expertise represented: Health practitioner and settlement services
- Joined the executive group: July 2018
Jacinta Bongiorno has a strong working knowledge of refugee health programs. Jacinta has worked as a Settlement Health Coordinator since late 2016, where she is co-located at AMES Australia. Jacinta works closely with the Humanitarian Settlement Program, but also the Status Resolution Support Services. Jacinta is the co-chair of the Disability Action Group and co-leader of the Refugee Disability Network which services people seeking asylum and newly arrived refugees ineligible, or waiting extended periods of time, to access pro-bono support from allied health professionals.
Rebecca Eckard
- Area of expertise represented: Policy and strategy development and settlement services
- Joined the executive group: July 2018
Rebecca Eckard is the Deputy Director of Policy & Research at the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA), the national umbrella body for refugees, people seeking asylum and the organisations and individuals who support them. Rebecca convenes several policy and advocacy networks, drafts submissions and testimony for Parliamentary inquiries and delivers information and education sessions on Australia’s asylum and refugee policies. Rebecca regularly participates in representative work on behalf of RCOA, both in Australia and internationally. Prior to RCOA, Rebecca worked in the Policy and Strategy Branch of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Joanne Gardiner
- Area of expertise represented: Health practitioner
- Joined the executive group: July 2018
Dr Joanne Gardiner is a GP who has worked with refugees and asylum seekers since 1995. Joanne currently works at Foundation House in the Refugee Mental Health Clinic two days per week, at cohealth two days per week, and runs a GP clinic for refugees and asylum seekers at the Royal Melbourne Hospital one day per week, where she is also a Refugee Health Fellow part time. Her primary interests are in refugee health assessment, refugee mental health and chronic pain. Joanne was the Chair of the Victorian Refugee Health Network 2015-2017.
Kaye Graves
- Area of expertise represented: Rural and regional
- Joined the executive group: July 2018
Kaye Graves is the manager of Cultural Diversity and Relationships at Bendigo Community Health Services. Her current role involves representing the rural voice in all aspects of refugee settlement and for those seeking asylum, advocating for existing refugee communities to optimise their community participation, settlement achievements, service and health literacy. Kaye is the chair of the Bendigo Settlement Network and has over 25 years’ experience working in public and community health.
Dina Korkees
- Area of expertise represented: Community advisory
- Joined the executive group: July 2018
Dina Korkees was born in Iraq, she came to Australia in 2001 as an asylum seeker. She is a Community Liaison Worker from the Capacity Building Team at Foundation House, and works with the Assyrian Chaldean community and Arabic speakers. She has over ten years’ experience in working with refugees and new arrivals, providing social and emotional support for individuals, families and communities to build a new life in Australia. In her role she has co-facilitated a number of therapeutic groups for different ages (children, young adults, women), helped organising a number of community education and consultation sessions as well as working in number of community capacity building projects in partnership with other service providers. Dina holds a bachelor degree in Education and Masters of Social Work.
Georgie Paxton
- Area of expertise represented: Children, families and young people; health practitioner and policy and strategy development
- Joined the executive group: July 2018
Dr Georgie Paxton is a general paediatrician who has worked in refugee health since 2005. She leads the Royal Children’s Hospital Immigrant Health Service and is involved in guideline and policy development at local, state and national level. Her research interests include the health status of refugee children and young people. She was Chair of the Victorian Refugee Health Network over 2013 – 2015, she currently works with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and has held advisory roles with the Department of Home Affairs. In 2016, she was inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll for Women for her work in refugee health.
Permanent executive group members
DHHS representative
Auspicing agency Foundation House
Josef Szwarc
Josef is the Manager of the Community and Sector Development Program at the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (also known as Foundation House). His current program responsibilities include the Victorian Refugee Health Network, Education and Early Years and Community Capacity Building. Josef formerly managed Foundation Houses’ ‘policy and research’ for a number of years. Prior to joining Foundation House, Josef worked on human rights and social policy issues for various non-governmental and governmental bodies in Australia and the UK.
Statewide refugee health program facilitator
Kath Desmyth
Kath is the Statewide Facilitator of the Refugee Health Program. In her role she provides support and training to nurses and allied health staff working in the program as well as advising local, state and national agencies that provide services to people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.
She has over 10 years’ experience in international development and public health working in Africa, Asia and the Northern Territory. Kath is a registered nurse and holds a Master’s in Public Health. She sits on the executive committee for Refugee Nurses Australia and RHeaNA.
Secretariat support is provided by the Coordinator of the Victorian Refugee Health Network. Contact:
