People from refugee backgrounds, including those seeking asylum, experience a number of barriers to accessing health and other services, including difficulties understanding and navigating the health system. Knowledge of local support services for people from refugee backgrounds and utilising a partnership or team approach in practice can assist in the coordination and management of health care and other services.
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Foundational skills and systems
- Ability to identify people from refugee backgrounds, including people seeking asylum, in practice systems
- Demonstrated understanding of the refugee experience, including settlement stressors, in relation to the health care experience
- Knowledge of the local refugee health nurse/program and their role
- Demonstrated willingness for flexible service delivery i.e. longer appointment times
- Knowledge of local referral pathways, including out of pocket costs
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Additional skill and systems
- Recall and reminder system that considers language and literacy levels
- Understanding of settlement worker support for assistance with first appointment for new arrivals
- Preparedness to recognise and refer to appropriate services to manage a person’s psycho-social circumstances
- Knowledge of differences between refugees and asylum seekers, including case work supports and funding for service delivery
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Resources
For general practitioners, practice nurses and other clinical staff
- Refugee Health Assessment Template
- HealthPathways Melbourne – Refugee HealthPathway including clinical practice pointers and local referral pathways. To request the username and password, email
- Your local Refugee Health Nurse – speak with your local Refugee Health Program about how they are able to support you
- Ask Izzy – this resource provides links to many additional services including:
- food
- housing
- material aid
- health providers
- Centrelink offices
- financial support
- counselling
- legal advice
- drug and alcohol assistance
- life skills and education
- employment services
- facilities
- recreational activities
- technology
- advocacy
For practice managers and reception staff
- Refugee and asylum seeker settlement in Victoria – Fact sheet for services providers, including Commonwealth and state policy provisions
- Your local settlement service provider – settlement workers can provide support to patients to attend their first appointment and with follow up (in development)
- Your local refugee health nurse/program
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Whole of practice suggestions
Download pdf tipsheet with whole of practice suggestions HERE
To visit Communication in general practice click here
To visit Clinical care in general practice click here
