Improving health and wellbeing for Victorians of refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds

The Network provides a platform for collaboration, service coordination, resources, training and advocacy to address the health needs and challenges experienced by Victorians from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.

Announcements

Witness to War Multicultural Hotline

Witness to War is a national multilingual telephone hotline by NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors, for people affected by overseas conflicts. The helpline is for individuals, families and communities who are distressed about overseas events, have friends and family abroad, need someone to talk to, or need help finding information about useful services and support.

Anyone across Australia can call, free of charge.

2026 Interpreter Scholarship Program

The Interpreter Scholarship Program works to improve the supply, quality and use of language services in Victoria by offering scholarships to eligible students seeking to undertake a range of Interpreting courses at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), commencing in 2026.

Extreme heat and heatwaves – Multilingual Resources

With recent heatwaves and the likelihood of more extreme heat in the coming weeks, the Victorian Government has developed a range of resources to support communities and service providers to raise awareness about the impacts of extreme heat on health. Translated resources are available to help everyone stay safe during hot weather.

The Victorian Refugee Health Network is an initiative committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds in Victoria. 

The Victorian Refugee Health Network is funded by the Victorian Government’s (Department of Health) and auspiced by The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture.  

Resources and referrals

The Victorian Refugee Health Network collates information on resources  and referral pathways to health services (primary, specialist, mental health) that work with refugee/asylum seeker clients.

Here you can find referral information as well as tools and resources for health professionals when working with refugees and people seeking asylum.

Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide

Access the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide here

Health Translations

Latest news

Join the Network’s Executive Group

Join the Network’s Executive Group

Submit an Expression of Interest to join the Network’s Executive Group, providing strategic oversight and key policy advice related to health services and systems for people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds in Victoria.

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2025 Party Policy Comparison on Refugee and Asylum Seeker Issues

2025 Party Policy Comparison on Refugee and Asylum Seeker Issues

The Victorian Refugee Health Network notes the recent election results and congratulates MPs and Senators on their election to the new Federal Parliament.

Prior to the 2025 Federal Election, Refugee Council of Australia produced a briefing paper providing an overview of the public positions on refugee issues of the three parties with the largest representation in the Australian Parliament – the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal-National Coalition and the Australian Greens.

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Latest e-newsletters

The Network publishes a monthly e-Bulletin that shares current news and resources and showcases good practice from the refugee health sector in Victoria and Australia.

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