People from refugee backgrounds face a number of challenges when accessing health care services. Understanding their background and journey can give all health care professionals a greater understanding of how to provide best-practice health care. Refugees and internationally displaced people may have experienced many traumatic experiences relating to conflict, persecution, environmental degradation and poverty, resulting in the need to seek refuge.
In 2020, there were 13,171 refugees settled in Australia[1] and it is essential that they have access to services that are culturally safe, and that promote trauma recovery and resilience. Supports provided should always recognise and respect the cultural identities of others, and safely meet their needs, expectations and rights.
New arrivals from refugee backgrounds will typically be unfamiliar with Australian health care services systems and procedures, including the roles of general practice and other primary health care providers, pharmacy, and hospital-based services. General practice has a key role to play in undertaking post-arrival health assessments and providing ongoing care. Primary care providers are ideally placed for managing referrals and coordinating multiple services to meet an individual’s needs, such as housing, financial support, mental health care and allied health services.
Western Sydney Services for People from Refugee and CALD Backgrounds
We recognise that Western Sydney is one of the most diverse populations in Australia, with many people born overseas and speaking a language other than English. We recommend connecting patients from refugee and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds with the following services we commission in Western Sydney. These services will provide culturally safe and tailored support to help them heal and have better health outcomes.
Dementia Care Navigator - Dementia Australia
Dementia Care Navigator supports people living with dementia, their families and carers, primarily from CALD communities. A specialist navigator acts as a key touchpoint, assisting with navigation through the health system for a person with a diagnosis of dementia or their families.
For more information, please visit the Dementia Australia website.
Odyssey House NSW
This program offers CALD drug and alcohol services to individuals and their families. This includes individual counselling and group programs.
For more information, please visit the Odyssey House website.
Looking After Your Health - Diabetes NSW & ACT
Diabetes NSW & ACT hosts online and face-to-face sessions in different languages to increase awareness of the risk factors for chronic conditions.
Read more about the Looking After Your Health program in our recent feature article.
Bilingual Hospital 2 Home - One Door Mental Health
Bilingual Hospital 2 Home supports people from CALD communities who are leaving mental health support programs (hospital or community-based) and need support with navigating the challenges of integrating back into the community and accessing the right, culturally appropriate supports.
For more information, please visit the One Door Mental Health website.
NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS)
STARTTS runs the CALD Mental Health Literacy and Suicide Prevention Program, and Psychosocial Support Program for refugees who identify as LGBTQIA+.
Training and Support for Health Professionals in Western Sydney
Our Refugee Health Facilitator, Firat Abali, is available to:
- Support GPs to address the challenges faced in the provision of patient care services for refugees
- Facilitate training and provide educational resources that contribute to eliminating those challenges
- Collaborate, network and partner with key community organisations, government agencies and local councils to address health care gaps for refugees and asylum seekers
We are hosting a Holistic Health Care for Refugees education session alongside NSW Refugee Health Service (RHS) and Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC). GPs, nurses, practice staff, allied health and health professionals in Western Sydney are invited to attend.
Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm
Date: 12 October 2023
Please reserve a spot to attend the webinar.
Additional Resources for Health Professionals
Western Sydney HealthPathways provides up-to-date, clinically accurate information to help health professionals assess, manage and refer their patients. Visit the Refugee Health pathway to learn more. If you require the login details to access HealthPathways, please contact our HealthPathways team at healthpathways@wentwest.com.au
To encourage people from refugee backgrounds to identify themselves, we have developed a poster in different languages that will help the patients feel more comfortable to share their experiences and what kind of services they might need.
Private medical practitioners, nurses and other practice staff providing Medicare rebateable services are eligible to access free interpreting services through Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National. Pharmacies can also access free interpreting through TIS National when providing medication under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS). The Doctors’ Priority Line (1300 131 450) also gives eligible GPs 24-hour priority access to TIS National phone interpreters. For more information about free interpreting services, please visit the TIS National website.
28 September 2023
[1] Australian Red Cross (2021), Refugee and asylum seeker facts. Access by: https://www.redcross.org.au/act/help-refugees/refugee-facts/