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

Migration Amendment Bills Raise Alarming Health Concerns for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

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.

Advocates are alarmed by restrictions on bridging visa holders’ access to Medicare, potentially leaving refugees without vital medical care and exacerbating health inequities. Healthcare groups urge the government to reconsider, warning of broader public health risks and the ethical imperative to ensure healthcare access for all. With parliamentary debate looming, the implications for refugees’ well-being are dire.

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.