Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide – Sixth Edition Update
An update of the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide is underway, led by the Victorian Refugee Health Network. This update will ensure that the Guide remains a foundational resource, supporting primary healthcare professionals across Australia to provide comprehensive, responsive and trauma-informed healthcare to people from refugee backgrounds, including people seeking asylum.
Background
The Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide was first published by Foundation House in 1998 to support primary care in delivering on-arrival and ongoing healthcare to people from refugee backgrounds, including those seeking asylum.
Previous editions were produced with significant expertise and time from refugee health specialists across Australia and collaboration with national peak bodies, including the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) and the Refugee Health Network of Australia (RHeaNA). The most recent edition in 2018 was endorsed as a clinically approved resource by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
Approach
For the sixth edition of the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, a dedicated project team was established in August 2025. In delivering this project, the Network is guided by our Strategic Plan values – collaboration, responsiveness, accountability, transparency and advocacy – in partnership with both sector and communities. We look forward to collaborating with you to support comprehensive, responsive and trauma-informed primary care for people from refugee backgrounds, including those seeking asylum.
The project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide
Access the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide (Fifth edition) here
Get in touch
Do you have any questions or would you like to be involved in the update of the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide?
Email us: refugeehealth@foundationhouse.org.au
Angela Keating
Project Lead – Australian Refugee Health Practice GuideMaddie Cranney
Project Officer – Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide