Refugee and asylum seeker resources
Support: Organisations Assisting With Asylum Seekers' Health Needs
A number of organisations and networks are being established around Australia to coordinate or provide assistance, including volunteer health care services to asylum seekers in the community who are not issued Medicare cards.
Generally, people who have been recognised as refugees by the Australian government receive a Medicare card. Where asylum seekers are being held in detention centres, the centre management is responsible for providing health care services.
If you are interested in finding out how you can help, here are some contacts:
National | ACT | NSW | Regional NSW | QLD | SA | VIC | WA
- The Professional Alliance for the Health of Asylum Seekers and
their Children
The RACGP and 27 other medical Colleges, professional associations and other organisations have joined together to form this national alliance.
Website: www.racp.edu.au
- Companion House Refugee Health Service
Medical service attached to Companion House Torture and Trauma Service
Contact: Dr Christine Phillips
Tel: 02 6247 7227
Fax: 02 6252 4508
Email: christine.phillips@calvary-act.com.au
- Asylum Seekers Centre
This is a voluntary organisation which provides education, support, legal and health services for asylum seekers in the community
Contact: Sylvia Winton (Co-ordinator)
Tel: 02 9361 5606
Fax: 02 9331 6670
Email: admin@asylumseekerscentre.org.au
Website: www.asylumseekerscentre.org.au - NSW Refugee Health Service
Funded by the NSW Department of Health, this service provides clinical assessments, orientation to the health system, advocacy, and works with health services to improve health and health service access for refugees and others of similar background living in NSW.
Contact: Dr Mitchell Smith (director)
Tel: 02 8778 0770
Fax: 02 8778 0790
Email: mitchell.smith@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
Web: www.refugeehealth.org.au.
- Greater Murray/Riverina Refugee Services Network
A network of doctors, health workers and settlement workers who provide refugee services from Wagga Wagga, Albury, Griffith, Young and Canberra.
Contact: Elizabeth Price
Tel: 02 6247 7227
Email: eliz_ch@tpg.com.au
- The Brisbane Refugee and Asylum Seekers Health Network
Contact: Dr Rohan Vora
Tel: 07 3840 1187
Email: rohanvora@bigpond.com
Website: http://www.brashn.org.au
- Queensland Integrated Refugee and Community Health Clinic
(QIRCH)
A specialist primary health care clinic for refugees (bulk-billing) and refugee claimants (free) with a focus on early health assessment and intervention, short-term treatment, integration with allied health and community support services and discharge after initial treatment to the care of a community GP.
Contacts:
Coordinator: sarah_grealy@mc.mater.org.au
For referral form: qirch_clinic@mc.mater.org.au
- Migrant Health Service, Adelaide
Services for Newly Arrived Refugees and the GPs who care for them
21 Market St. Adelaide 5000
Phone 08 8237 3900
Fax 08 82373949Services offered at the Migrant Health Service include
- Comprehensive health screening and early intervention to newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers (newly arrived means within the last year)
- A template has been developed to facilitate access to the new MBS Item number 714 for the ‘Health Assessment for refugees and Other Humanitarian Entrants’.
- Immunisation information and referral through the Newly Arrived Refugee Immunisation (NARI) Coordination Project
- Supported referral to community GPs after our initial involvement
- Telephone support for clinical practice questions about health issues and use of interpreters
- Counselling to newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers for issues related to resettlement
- Regular health information sessions for newly emerging communities
- Education sessions for Divisions, GPs and Practice Staff on such issues as cultural awareness, infectious diseases, nutritional deficiencies, mental health problems, immunisation and use of interpreters.
-
The South Australian Refugee Health Network
The SARHN is a group of health professions who are interested in providing health care to refugees in SA. They have educational meetings, as well as research and advocacy interests. For information or to join the email list please contact teresa.burgess@adelaide.edu.au. The SARHN has also put together a list of Services for Refugees and Asylum Seekers and a list of useful websites.
This is a volunteer run free GP and allied health service open Monday-Friday for asylum seekers. The ASRC also offers counselling, legal, casework, material aid, food bank, english lessons and a drop in centre with a daily lunch.
- ASRC Health Service formerly Bula Bula Health Project,
Melbourne, Victoria (part of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre)
Contact: Jo Kirk
Tel: 03 9326 6033 / 03 9326 6066
Email: Kirk.jo@gmail.com - The Victorian Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Network
Contact: Melina Simmond
Tel: 0394201357
Mobile: 0415 223344
email: melinas@nrchc.com.au
Web: www.rashnmelb.org and www.rhhr.net - Asylum Seeker Specialist Medical Clinic
Offering specialist medical services to Medicare ineligible asylum seekers. Patients MUST be referred by a General Practitioner.Contact: Dr. Tim Lightfoot
Tel: 03 9419 2477
Fax: 03 9417 1694
Email: lightft@svhm.org.au
- The Refugee Mental Health Project
Contact: Sarah Lausberg
Tel: 03 9389 8950
Email: lausberg@survivorsvic.org.au
- WA Refugee Health Network
Contact: Ms Penny Anderson - to find a service provider
Tel: 9380 8699
Email: college.wa@surgeons.org
Contact: Dr Aesen Thambiran - General enquiries
Email: aesen@tpg.com.au
Web: www.warhn.org
To include details of other organisations on this list, please contact Julian Thomas, email: julian.thomas@racgp.org.au
Related files
The Refugee Mental Health Project
Asylum Seeker Specialist Medical Clinic
SARHN Services for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
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