This report presents the evaluation findings and lessons learned from the Asylum Seeker Health Orientation and Triage Model (HOTAS) project that took place from December 2012 – September 2013.
A total of 818 asylum seekers attended 17 triage sessions during this period.
The project was established by the State-wide Refugee Health Nurse Facilitator and developed as a partnership across four Community Health Centres; the Western Region Health Centre, Doutta Galla Community Health Service, ISIS Primary Care and Dianella and Darebin Community Health Service, in collaboration with the Australian Red Cross, AMES and the Victorian Refugee Health Network. Funding was provided by the Inner North West Melbourne and Northern Melbourne Medicare Locals to provide coordination for the project.
The evaluation concerns both the implementation of the project, together with an evaluation of the triage approach, as this evolved throughout the project implementation. Recommendations are provided on the triage operation, the sharing of information and health information, and broader sector development.