Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide – Sixth Edition Update
An update of the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide is underway, led by the Victorian Refugee Health Network.
Background
The Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide was first published by Foundation House in 1998 as a handbook for doctors and other health care providers caring for people from refugee backgrounds.
Five editions have since been produced in partnership with refugee health specialists across Australia and in collaboration with national peak bodies.
Foundation House and the Victorian Refugee Health Network recognises the significant initiative, time and expertise contributed by refugee health specialists over the history of the Guide. These contributions have ensured it has remained the foundational refugee health resource across Australia.
The fifth edition in 2018 included clinical recommendations from the ASID/RHeaNA Recommendations for comprehensive post-arrival health assessment for people from refugee-like backgrounds.¹
The fifth edition ‘Desktop Guide’ was endorsed as a clinically approved resource by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
¹ Chaves NJ, Paxton G, Biggs BA, Thambiran A, Smith M, Williams J, Gardiner J, Davis JS; on behalf of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases and Refugee Health Network of Australia Guidelines writing group.
Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide
Access the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide – Fifth edition
Approach
The sixth edition update aims to ensure the Guide remains a foundational resource, supporting primary healthcare professionals across Australia to provide comprehensive, responsive and trauma-informed healthcare to people from refugee backgrounds, including people seeking asylum.
In delivering this project, the Network is guided by our Strategic Plan values – collaboration, responsiveness, accountability, transparency and advocacy – in partnership with both sector and communities. This update will aim to amplify expertise from lived experience, primary care clinicians and specialised refugee health services.
This project is funded by the Program of Assistance for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (PASTT) within the Commonwealth Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The project is in consultation with national networks Refugee Health Network of Australia (RHeaNA) and the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT).
Update – Quarter 3 2026:
Following careful scoping and planning, the project has now moved into the developing updates to two priority sections of the Guide: Approaches to Care and the Refugee Health Assessment. Lived experience advisors, primary care clinicians and specialised refugee health clinicians are beginning collaborative work on updates to these two sections. We’re excited to support their expertise and experience shaping the next edition of the Guide.
Get in Touch
Do you have any questions, or would you like to be involved in the update of the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide?
Email us: refugeehealth@foundationhouse.org.au
Project Lead – Angela Keating