Refugee Health Program
The Refugee Health Program (RHP) began in 2005, with the aim of responding to the poor health and complex health issues of arriving refugees in Victoria. The program aims to:
- increase refugee access to primary health services
- improve how health services respond to refugees’ needs
- coordinate a response to newly arrived refugees
- help individuals, families, and refugee communities improve their health and well-being.
The program is delivered by community health services (CHSs), and employs community health nurses, allied health professionals, and bicultural workers. The nurses and other health professionals have expertise in working with culturally and linguistically diverse and marginalised communities.
Referral
Preston-YOUR Community Health (PANCH)
We have a specialist medical clinic for newly arrived Refugees and Asylum Seekers that offers long appointments and assistance in understanding and navigating the healthcare and social support system in Australia.
Visit
Referral
Swan Hill District Health
The Refugee Health Program works to meet the healthcare needs of refugees and asylum seekers living in the Swan Hill District. It is a free service. The Refugee Health Nurse will use an interpreter (as needed) to help you with your health care needs, and will refer you to other members of our health team as needed. This is a confidential service.
Visit
Referral
Mildura — Sunraysia Community Health Services
The Refugee Health Nurse Service seeks to optimize the long-term health of refugees by promoting accessible and culturally appropriate health care services that are innovative and responsive to the unique needs of refugees and asylum seekers residing within the Mildura district.
Visit
Referral
Shepparton — Primary Care Connect
We specialises in counselling and advocacy for migrants of refugee backgrounds or seeking asylum in Australia. We work within a trauma-informed framework to work together with individuals/families to help reduce trauma symptoms and emotional distress, build coping skills, develop problem-solving strategies and build connections within the community.
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Referral
Geelong— Barwon Health
Refugees attend the clinic through GP referral for assessment, treatment and ongoing management by infectious diseases physicians who provide specialist support for GPs. Refugees are bulk billed under Medicare and onsite interpreters are utilised.
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Referral
Wodonga-Gateway Community Health
Gateway Health provides medical care and support to newly arrived refugees through our Multicultural Clinic and links to other support organisations.
Visit
Referral
Bendigo Community Health Services
Bendigo Community Health Service offers a range of services for the local refugee communities, including the Refugee Health Nurse Service, torture and trauma counselling and humanitarian settlement support.
Visit
Referral
Hume/Whittlesea- DPV Health
We provide inclusive healthcare services to newly-settled refugees and asylum seekers living in the Hume or Whittlesea catchment areas.
Visit
Referral
Maribyrnong- Western Health
Western Health provides a comprehensive, integrated range of clinical services from our various sites ranging from mental health and wellbeing services, and acute tertiary services.
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Resource
The Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide
The Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide can be used by doctors, nurses and other primary care providers to inform on-arrival and ongoing health care for people from refugee backgrounds, including people seeking asylum.
Visit
Referral
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.
Find out more
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.
Visit
Resource
Guidelines for the Refugee Health Nurse Program
The RHNP is intended to optimise the long-term health of refugee community
members through promoting accessible and culturally appropriate health care services that are
responsive to changing patterns of refugee settlement.
Referral
Ballarat —Ballarat Community Health
The Ballarat Community Health refugee health nurse co-ordinates access to healthcare for newly-arrived refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, and assists them in working towards independence. Paediatric immigrant health clinic.
Visit
Referral
Gippsland —Latrobe Community Health Service
Latrobe Community Health Service offers health services and other forms of community support to migrants and refugees.
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