Most asylum seekers are eligible for Medicare and all Medicare services, however currently a number of community based asylum seekers have expired medicare cards. For further information about how to renew Medicare cards and alternative billing arrangements visit Medicare renewal for asylum seekers.
It is recommended that asylum seekers are bulk-billed: Asylum seekers are not eligible for Health Care Cards through Centrelink but they may have other identification. Most asylum seekers have limited or no income in Australia.
Medicare eligibility is linked to visa status – Medicare access is often temporary and can change over the course of someone’s protection application.
Victorian public health services are free for asylum seekers
Victorian public health services are free for asylum seekers who do and do not have a Medicare Card.
Background and details: Following a decision by the Victorian government in 2005, asylum seekers (especially people who are Medicare ineligible) have special access to: public hospital services, ambulance services in emergency situations, Community health and Home and Community Care Program services, dental services and catch-up immunisations. View the Department of Health ‘Guide to asylum seeker access to health and community services in Victoria’.
Referral
| Organisation | Services provided | Contact/referral method |
|---|---|---|
| Primary care | ||
| Asylum Seeker Resource Centre | Medical clinic and pharmaceuticals, legal assistance, case work, material aid. | Monday - Friday 10am-4pm 214-218 Nicholson Street, Footscray (03) 9326 6066 179 Lonsdale Street Dandenong (03) 8772 1380 |
| Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub | Nurse led clinics, GPs, Specialist Mental Health Service, psychiatry, psychology, physiotherapy, immunisations, pathology, medical imaging, pharmacy & optometry. | Monday – Friday and occasional Saturday mornings. 503 Sydney Road, Brunswick 3056. (03) 8388 7874 Fax: 9380 8760 Email: Cabrini Outreach Website: https://www.cabrinioutreach.com.au/ Cabrini Outreach Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub: https://www.cabrinioutreach.com.au/heritage-and-strategy/australian-programs/asylum-seekers-and-refugees/ |
| Monash Refugee Health & Wellbeing | Health clinic including pharmacy, refugee health nurses, GPs, allied health, counselling, women’s health. Referral for paediatrics and infectious diseases | 122 Thomas Street Dandenong Clinical enquires and referrals: Refugee Health Nurse on triage Ph: 97928100 |
| EACH | Refugee health nurse, GP, pharmacy, allied health | 75 Patterson St, East Ringwood Ph: 03 9837 3999 Fax: 03 9879 6356 Web: www.each.com.au |
| cohealth (Kensington and Footscray) | Refugee health nurses, GPs, pharmacy, allied health | 12 Gower St, Kensington Ph: 03 8378 1600 Fax: 03 9372 1558 72-78 Paisley St, Footscray Ph: 03 8398 4100 Fax: 03 9687 9330 Web: www.cohealth.org.au |
| IPC Health Refugee Health Program (Sunshine, Hoppers Crossing, Deer Park and Wyndham Vale) | Refugee Health Nurses, Community Case Workers and allied health at Sunshine and Hoppers Crossing. GP clinics at Hoppers Crossing, Deer Park and Wyndham Vale. | 122 Harvester Road, Sunshine Phone: (03) 9313 5000 117-129 Warringa Crescent, Hoppers Crossing Phone: (03) 8734 1400 106 Station Road, Deer Park Phone: (03) 9219 7142 510 Ballan Road, Wyndham Vale Phone: (03) 9216 7777 / 9216 7999 (GP) Web: https://www.ipchealth.com.au/ |
| Utopia Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health | Bulk-billed medical services are provided to refugees and asylum seekers by GPs who are experienced in refugee health, refugee health nurses, social and emotional well-being | 5 Alexandra Ave Hoppers Crossing VICTORIA 3029 T: 8001 3049 F: 8804 5848 E: https://www.utopiarefugeehealth.com/ |
| Specialist services | ||
| Royal Children's Hospital - Immigrant Health Service(Parkville) | Weekly outpatient clinic (Monday 1pm - 5pm) Multidisciplinary assessment for recently arrived and asylum seeker children: education/development, dental, immunisation, vitamin D and other. | Contact clinic coordinator Helen Milton through RCH switchboard: (03) 9345 5522 or More information: http://www.rch.org.au/immigranthealth/index.cfm?doc_id=10575 |
| Royal Melbourne Hospital Victorian Infectious Disease Service (VIDS) Immigrant & Refugee Health Clinic (Parkville) | Specialist care for immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and travellers. Infectious diseases and nutritional deficiency | Tuesdays 9am - midday Contact VIDS via the RMH switchboard: (03) 9342 7000 Building 9 North Royal Melbourne Hospital |
| International Health and Medical Services (IHMS) | Health services for people in detention (including in Community Detention) Medical records and detention health summaries | For medical summaries email: To become an IHMS provider: (02) 9372 2500 |
| Foundation House (Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture) | Torture and trauma counselling services | Monday - Friday (03) 9388 0022 * Sites in: Dandenong, Sunshine, Ringwood, Brunswick |
| Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) | ||
| Red Cross Migration Support Programs | Casework | (03) 8327 7883 * Site in Dandenong opening soon 23-47 Villiers Street, North Melbourne 3001 |
| AMES Settlement, Community Detention and BVE support | Casework | (03) 9926 4666 |
| Life Without Barriers | Casework | Level 2, 1-7 Langhorne Street, Dandenong VIC 3175. Phone: 03 8752 8500 Shop 5, 560-610 High Street, Epping VIC 3076. Phone: 03 8405 4400 137 Harvester Road, Sunshine VIC 3020. Phone: 03 9313 2400 |
| Legal services | ||
| Refugee Legal (formerly RILC) | Legal assistance | (03) 9413 0100 |
Community Detention
Asylum seeker clients in Community Detention are Medicare ineligible, and their health care is funded by DIAC through a contract to the International Health and Medical Service (IHMS). Clients may carry an IHMS card with them (view sample IHMS card). You will need to contact IHMS to arrange a service agreement and to establish a billing method if seeing people who are in Community Detention. View the Department of Health ‘Guidelines for Victorian public health services on community detention‘.
Detention Health Record
Asylum seekers who have been held in immigration detention facilities will have had health tests performed by IHMS. Clients should bring a hand held record to appointments. If the client does not have the record, you can ask the client if they would like you to request a copy. The IHMS Community Detention Assistance Desk (CDAD) is available 24 hours a day: 1800 689 295 and can provide you with information and medical history.
