e-Bulletin October 2011

1. New post-graduate studies in refugee health & wellbeing for nurses commencing in semester one of 2012 at Monash University. The unit may be taken as part of a Master of Nursing (Refugee Health) or Master of Clinical Midwifery, as part of a Graduate Certificate or Diploma of Nursing (Refugee Health) or as a stand-alone unit. This unit and stream have been developed in partnership with the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture and the Statewide Refugee Health Nurse facilitator, sponsored by the Victorian Department of Health. Click here for the unit outline.

2. Two community detention resources from Department of Health; “Guide to access to Victorian public health services by people living in community detention” and “Immunisation for residents living in community detention” are now available. These resources along with other resources to assist in working with people who are asylum seekers can be found on the Network website, www.refugeehealthnetwork.org.au

3. Survey on use of Refugee Health Assessment tool: General Practive Victoria and Foundation House are consulting with GPs and other health professionals on their use of the refugee health assessment.  The survey has 22 questions and should take 3-15 minutes to complete depending on your usage of the tool.  Click here to open the survey.

Resources

4. Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) Realestate Pilot. The extended pilot has approved 117 continuing real estate agencies, and added 222 new agencies who were nominated by some of our Settlement Grants Program providers in locations identified as of high settlement need. The pilot entitles approved agencies to unlimited access to free telephone interpreting to assist non-English speaking clients to independently navigate the rental market. Click here for a list of contact details of the participating agencies.

5. Working in Australia What You Need to Know. Knowing about Australia’s workplace laws is especially important for people of non-English speaking background, as these laws may be different in their home country. A series of materials have been translated to help people better understand their workplace rights and entitlements. A short video “Working in Australia” in 14 languages and a new brochure “Working in Australia – What You Need to Know” in 12 languages, including Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Khmer, Serbian and Vietnamese.  These resources can be located at www.fairwork.gov.au/languages/working-in-australia/Pages/default.aspx

6. Universal Stories of Healing from Depression is a series of three animated stories produced by isee-ilearn.com.  The stories, which have been developed with people from Afghanistan, Burma and Sudan reflect the culture, values and traditions of those communities. Each story is approximately 10 minutes in length and can be accessed by following this link http://www.italklibrary.com/universal-stories-of-healing-from-depression/ or a DVD version of the stories can be ordered by visiting www.beyondblue.org.au/resources/ or by calling 1300 22 4636.

7. Department of Immigration and Citizenship Complex Case Support Newsletter provides feedback about the program including noting the pivotal role GPs and other health professionals play in referral.  Click here for a copy of the newsletter.

Professional Development

8. Working for Success: What do real employment outcomes look like for young people who are refugees and new arrivals? This Centre for Multicultural Youth Conference will be hosting this forum on the 28^th of October 2011 at the Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre.  For further information visit www.cmy.net.au/Assets/1755/1/WorkingforSuccessFlyer.pdf

9. Cultural Responsiveness in Perinatal Mental Health: Working Effectively with Women and their Families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Backgrounds is a Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit (VTPU) professional development day which will cover cultural responsiveness, working effectively with interpreters, cultural formulation in mental health, frameworks for understanding perinatal depression across cultures and recovery. Click here for further details including the range of dates and locations where it is being offered.

Research / Reports

10. Katelaris A.G. & Harris M. (2011). “The profession calls for humane treatment of asylum seekers”. Medical Journal of Australia, 195 (6): 309. The authors assert that “Many of us are deeply ashamed of the way Australia treats asylum seekers. Our politicians and media obsess about the way they reach our shores, but, as doctors, our role is to care for them and to advocate for their best interests.” For full editorial follow this link: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/195_06_190911/choice_190911_fm.html

11. FECCA Access and Equity Report 2010-11: Insights and Feedback on Commonwealth Government Services from FECCA’s National Access and Equity Consultations with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities 2010–2011 highlighted the Breast Cancer Awareness Program, NSW Refugee Health Service as an example of good practice (page 90), the full report can be accessed by following this link: http://www.fecca.org.au/Submissions/2011/submissions_2011060.pdf

12. On Her Way: Primary prevention of violence against immigrant and refugee women in Australia 2011 is a report produced by the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health. Violence against women is a significant public health issue worldwide.  This report based on extensive research and consultation, provides an overview of the various groups of immigrant and refugee women in Australia that should be considered in violence prevention efforts, the nature of violence perpetrated against these women, the factors that may increase women’s exposure to violence and prevention strategies. For a full copy of the report follow this link: http://www.mcwh.com.au/healthprom/onherway.php

Some goodbyes and welcomes: The Victorian Refugee Health Network has recently said farewell to Claire Wherry who has been working behind the scenes on the Network’s website and E-Bulletin for 18 months.  At the same time we welcome May Maloney who is working on an update of Promoting Refugee Health due for launch March 2012 and Thuy Nguyen who is working on an oral health sector capacity building project until June 2012.  Welcome also to Rachel Vanstone who is working with the Research and Policy team at Foundation House on a project reviewing the use of interpreters by health professionals.  The Network will be working closely Rachel on this project.