The Australian government’s recent Migration Amendment Bills have sparked widespread concern among health professionals and human rights advocates, citing risks to refugees’ mental health and access to essential healthcare. Proposed changes include tighter visa requirements and expedited deportation processes, which critics argue could amplify anxiety, depression, and PTSD among asylum seekers already facing significant psychological distress due to past traumas.
Launched in mid 2022, the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) gives groups of locals the opportunity to welcome refugees into their community, supporting them from day one of their Australian journey. Following their pilot phase, the Australian Government made a recent announcement to make CRISP a permanent feature of Australia’s overall humanitarian program.
Two new cases of measles have been reported in Victoria that have not travelled overseas, and have no known links to recent cases of measles. These cases were infectious at multiple locations in Greater Bendigo and metropolitan Melbourne. This means there is now local transmission of measles in the community.
The Victorian Refugee Health Network will be holding the next Statewide meeting via Zoom on Thursday 27 March 2025 from 2pm to 4pm.
The Victorian Refugee Health Network State-wide meetings bring together people from across government, health and community services. We have an engaging agenda planned, including policy updates from Refugee Council of Australia, settlement updates from AMES and insights from the Rural and Regional Working Group, as well as guest speaker presentations.
If you would like to raise any ongoing or emerging issues to our attention, please contact refugeehealth@foundationhouse.org.au. We look forward to hearing from you.
To enhance healthcare access for CALD patients, Murray PHN is providing the Interpreting for Allied Health and Primary Care Pilot Program until 30 June 2025. The program will support local private allied health services, urgent care clinics, and other primary care practitioners who are not eligible for other government-funded interpreting programs to access free interpreting services through the Translating and Interpreting Service, TIS National.
The Australian Government has announced a new visa pathway to support people from affected areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel who have arrived in Australia on temporary visas. The temporary humanitarian visa pathway is a two-step process. This involves being granted a subclass 449 Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa, followed by a subclass 786 Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) visa. The 786 visa will be granted for three years.
