Asylum Seeker Health Services
Asylum seekers have applied for protection visas to remain in Australia and are awaiting a decision. Asylum seekers arrive in Australia by plane and by boat, some arrive with valid visas, such as student or tourist visas, while others arrive with no visa. This means that asylum seekers may or may not be on a ‘bridging visa’. People who are asylum seekers are among the most disadvantaged people living in Victoria, often receiving little or no Commonwealth government income support.
While their applications for permanent residence in Australia are being determined, asylum seekers may be issued a number of different visas by the Commonwealth government. Some visa conditions restrict access to Medicare and the right to work. If a person does not have work rights, they will often not have access to Medicare. Entitlement to work rights and Medicare can change during the course of the process to determine a person’s refugee status.
For more information see: ‘Guide to asylum seeker access to health and community services in Victoria’
Referral
Priority Primary Care Centres (PPCC)
Priority Primary Care Centres (PPCCs) provide GP-led care to people who need urgent care, but not an emergency response. Each PPCC is partnered with a busy emergency department. Care is available to anyone with or without a Medicare card, at no cost to the patient. (Costs may be required for imaging, pathology and other services.)
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Referral
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC)
Medical clinic and pharmaceuticals, legal assistance, case work, material aid.
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Referral
Royal Children’s Hospital — Immigrant Health Service
Immigrant Health Service provides a comprehensive approach to physical and mental health for children and young people who arrived as refugees or seeking asylum. The service is free of charge for all refugee and asylum seeker children.
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Referral
Life Without Barriers
Life Without Barriers can help you access the services you need while a decision is being made about your visa and immigration status.
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Referral
Settlement Services International (SSI)
The Federal Government’s Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) program provides assistance to eligible asylum seekers, including accessing financial support, accommodation, healthcare, employment and education.
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Referral
Foundation House (Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture)
We support people of refugee background to recover from the impact of experiencing torture or other traumatic events.
If you are experiencing difficulties in your daily life, please contact us for help.
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Referral
International Health and Medical Services (IHMS)
IHMS provides healthcare to detainees within Australia’s onshore immigration detention network, as well as offshore in Nauru.
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Victorian Infectious Diseases Service (VIDS)
The Royal Melbourne Hospital provide comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services to patients with infectious diseases. Patients need a referral from their GP or healthcare provider to access this service.
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Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub
The Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub provides access to a range of health services for people seeking asylum and newly arrived refugees.
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Referral
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.
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IPC Health Refugee Health Program
Refugee Health Nurses, Community Case Workers and allied health at Sunshine and Hoppers Crossing. GP clinics at Hoppers Crossing, Deer Park and Wyndham Vale.
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Referral
Kensington and Footscray— Cohealth
Our specialised refugee and asylum seeker health nurses and support workers assess each person’s physical and mental health needs to connect people to the right health and social services.
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Referral
Ringwood East- EACH
Our Refugee Health service supports newly arrived refugees or asylum seekers with a thorough assessment of their current health and treatment or preventative interventions to ensure existing or at-risk conditions are managed appropriately.
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Information about People who are in Community Detention
Some asylum seekers are released from immigration detention facilities into the community under Residence Determination arrangements. Placement in the community allows people to move about without being accompanied.
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Free Ambulance services for people seeking asylum
Emergency ambulance services for community-based asylum seekers with no capacity to pay are free in Victoria. For more information see the Department website.
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Free Hospital Access for people seeking asylum
Policy Document for Victorian Hospitals. This policy outlines hospital access arrangements for people seeking asylum living in Victoria. While many people seeking asylum will have access to a Medicare card, some do not. All Medicare ineligible people seeking asylum are to be provided full medical care in Victorian public hospitals as admitted, non-admitted or emergency patients. You can also find a guidance note on ‘Identifying a person seeking asylum’.
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