No images? Click here Special edition March eBulletin: COVID-19 updateThe COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge for Victorian communities and our health and social services. We know you are working hard to ensure people of refugee backgrounds can equitably access healthcare information during this difficult time. The Victorian Refugee Health Network will deliver a more regular eBulletin during the COVID-19 pandemic, to share relevant information and resources as they become available. Victorian Refugee Health Network statewide meeting postponedWe have postponed the Victorian Refugee Health Network's statewide meeting, planned for April 23, 2020. We will keep you updated via the eBulletin on opportunities to engage with the Network. Stay informed Visit the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Victoria’s COVID-19 page for the latest information, updates and advice from State Government on COVID-19. If you suspect you may have the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) call the dedicated coronavirus hotline: 1800 675 398 – open 24 hours, 7 days. Please keep Triple Zero (000) for emergencies only. Multilingual information and resources on COVID-19Health Translations is a Victorian government initiative that provides high-quality consumer-focused translated materials on health and wellbeing. Health Translations is the best spot for all up-to-date translated materials on COVID-19. The COVID-19 collection of resources includes facts sheets, videos & posters in over 50 languages. You can access the collection at this link. If your service has developed in-language materials, please consider sharing them with the Health Translations team at the Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health. Contact Anni Tillack-Benton or Sabina Tresise for more information annit@ceh.org.au sabinat@ceh.org.au. SBS has launched a multilingual coronavirus online portal. This dedicated online information hub, produced by SBS Radio and SBS News, is for multicultural communities to easily access accurate and trusted news and information about COVID-19. The portal includes the latest news and resources across more than 60 languages. You can access the SBS multilingual coronavirus portal at sbs.com.au/coronavirus The Australian Government Department of Health is releasing translations of 10 Department of Health Fact Sheets in 21 languages including Arabic, Farsi (Persian) Farsi (Afghan) / Dari, Assyrian, Hazaragi, Kurdish Kurmanji, Swahili, Nepali, Burmese, Karen, Tigrinya and Chin Hakka. Translations will be added progressively this week, so check back regularly. Bendigo Community Health Services (BCHS) is sharing a weekly video conversation with a lead clinician on COVID-19 matters, in languages other than English. You can see the first videos in Dinka and Karen on their YouTube channel here. BSCHS has also developed a written resource ‘coronavirus – ways to reduce your risk’ in Karen, Dari and Dinka, all available on their website. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Victoria has translated resources on their website. DHHS is also engaging with culturally and linguistically diverse communities via radio and social media campaigns. Australian Red Cross COVID-19 resource page includes a poster ‘simple steps to reduce the risk of coronavirus for yourself and others’, available in 19 languages.
Refugee health and wellbeing: service updatesMany health services across Victoria are adapting to physical distancing requirements with changes to their service delivery. Below are brief updates from a few of Victoria’s excellent refugee health service providers. Details were correct as of March 27 2020. Check websites for the most up to date information. The Refugee Health Program operates in 17 local government areas of Victoria. All refugee health programs continue to provide services via a remote model. Staff are delivering consultations via telephone and telehealth services where possible, and screening all clients before any onsite appointments. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre remains committed to providing support for people seeking asylum. They are evolving service delivery procedures, considering strategies for mitigation and general health awareness. For more information on current service offerings, please phone (03) 9326 6066. Ballarat Community Health is developing new models of care to support most people to stay in their homes and access GPs and other health professionals via telephone-based or online appointments to minimise the risk of COVID-19 exposure. The best first step in accessing their service is to call (03) 5338 4500, so they can provide situation-specific information and book an appropriate appointment. Bendigo Community Health Services (BCHS) continues to deliver health services to their communities. Bicultural staff members and community volunteers are assisting the health service to identify and respond to the refugee background population’s health service and information needs. Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub provides quality primary and specialist health care for people seeking asylum and newly arrived refugees. The Health Hub is now operating largely through telehealth. Contact the service directly for more information regarding service availability on (03) 8388 7874. Monash Refugee Health and Wellbeing is operating mostly business as usual, utilising telehealth wherever possible. The main point of contact is the Refugee Health Nurse on Triage: phone (03) 97928100. Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH) is working with bilingual health educators to develop a series of multilingual health education videos on a range of health issues for refugee and migrant women. To keep updated on the progress, join their mailing list here. Primary Care Connect in Shepparton provides several refugee health services, including torture and trauma counselling. The service has suspended outreach and is minimising onsite face-to-face appointments, offering telephone appointments where possible. Referrals can still be made to the Primary Care Connect torture and trauma counselling team via the Primary Care Connect website, or by phone (03) 5823 3200. For more information regarding services for people from refugee backgrounds and people seeking asylum in Shepparton see their website. Royal Children’s Hospital – Immigrant Health Service is now conducting outpatient appointments via telehealth wherever possible. Visitors to the hospital are limited to parent/guardian or temporary carer. For more information, visit their website. The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House) remains operational and committed to delivering services and support for clients and communities during this difficult time. To best support staff, client and community wellbeing, services are now being offered by phone and video-conferencing technologies. Group events, professional development and training, and complementary therapy modalities such as bodywork have been suspended. Foundation House encourages agencies and individuals to continue to refer clients to the service by phoning (03) 9389 8900. Utopia Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health continues to operate in Melbourne's West, Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm with some adaptations. Telephone and telehealth consults are available for all patients. HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C consultations, as well as medical termination of pregnancy services are available onsite or via telehealth and telephone. An isolation room and Covid-19 tests are offered for asylum seekers and refugees who meet the National Criteria for Testing. The service can assess new arrivals in isolation through telephone, and if required, offer face-to-face consult with use of isolation room and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Utopia has Covid-19 information available in Karen language on their wesbite. Utopia Health is also offering healthcare facilitated telehealth linkage with specialists/hospitals if clients are unable to do so. The service can provide support to clients with downloading telehealth technology on phones/laptops/PC/tablets, if the client is non-English speaking or lacking IT skill. Note: non-Medicare card holders must have evidence of asylum seeker status of referral from agency that services asylum seekers e.g. (ASRC, Cabrini Hub, Foundation House). For appointments and advice on services, phone (03) 8001 3049 Resources and ReportsEmergency ReliefThe Refugee Council of Australia hosts a thorough directory of services available for refugees and people seeking asylum in Victoria, including details on emergency relief. Provider contact details are available on the website. Contact providers directly for the most up to date service availability. The Victorian Government is providing emergency relief for Victorians self-isolating due to coronavirus (COVID-19). People with no access to food and essential supplies will receive emergency relief packages under the program. Each eligible household will receive a two-week supply of essential goods. Please note, this program is for people in mandatory self-isolation, who have little or no food, and no network of family and friends to support them. Access these packages by calling the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398. Legal supportRefugee Legal is continuing to provide legal advice and assistance to asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, all legal advice and assistance will be provided by telephone or video conference until further notice. Community legal education and information will be provided online.
Government processing continues: The Government is continuing to process cases. The Department of Home Affairs, Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and the Immigration Assessment Authority (IAA) may hold interviews or hearings by telephone or video conference instead of in person. Family violence servicesNote: If you are in danger, call 000 or contact the police in your state or territory. The COVID-19 pandemic increases several known risk factors for family violence, including employment and housing insecurity, financial insecurity. Quarantine and isolation directives mean families are spending increased and sustained periods together. Victim-survivors may also have reduced access to supports, as well as a reduced ability to flee family violence during this time. The Commonwealth government has responded to these increased risks with an announcement over the weekend of a 150 million dollar boost to the national family violence initiative. Read more here. Specialist family violence services are open and available for support and advice for anyone experiencing family violence, and those worried about how potential self-isolation or quarantine will impact on their safety and wellbeing. InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence provides information and advice for professionals and women experiencing family violence. In Touch will continue to provide support to our clients via phone, and teleconferencing and are available to support the sector with secondary consultations and co-case management. inTouch is in the process of developing a specific ‘online hub’ designed to:
For more information, visit their website which includes a COVID-19 pandemic update. Safe Steps Victoria continues to operate their 24/7 crisis response phone line. The phone line offers confidential crisis support, information and accommodation on 1800 015 188. If it is unsafe to call, email safesteps@safesteps.org.au. Domestic Violence Resource Centre (DVRC) has many helpful information and resources for victim-survivors, health professionals and community members. Technology Safety Australia offers the Women’s Technology Safety & Privacy Toolkit: a great resource to engage with as services are shifting to remote service delivery in response to COVID-19. With Respect offer specialist LGBTIQ family violence services. You can contact w/respect on 1800 LGBTIQ (1800 542 847) or visit www.withrespect.org.au. No to Violence has helpful guidelines for adapting practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other helpful contacts:
HousingThe Andrews Labor Government’s announced a $6 million funding boost to homelessness agencies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will ensure organisations have extra resources to find temporary housing for those who need it most in both metropolitan and regional areas. “Funding will also go towards private rental brokerage for those at risk of falling into homelessness, helping to keep them in safe and affordable accommodation, and reduce the community transmission of COVID-19.” Launch Housing remains operational on the front line in Metro Melbourne as first responders during the coronavirus outbreak. Mobile outreach teams, crisis centres and other services remain open and are helping people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping in Melbourne. Beyond Housing is the largest community housing organisation within the Goulburn and Ovens Murray regions of Victoria, with offices in Wodonga, Wangaratta, Shepparton and Seymour. The service is now completing all appointments, where possible, by phone and Skype. Contact directly for more information on support available (03) 5735 2000. Mental HealthCircumstances arising from the COVID-19 will be particularly difficult for those living with mental health issues. There is also the risk the current crisis may be re-traumatising for people of refugee backgrounds. Many mental health service providers are responding to the COVID-19 crisis with a commitment to ongoing, modified services. However, services must also consider accessibility for those who speak languages other than English, and those who have limited access to the internet or a reliable phone. The Commonwealth government has responded to the increased risks to mental health during the pandemic with an announcement over the weekend of over $1bn to support services, including over $74m for mental health programs. Read more here. Embrace Multicultural Mental Health offers many helpful resources for communities and service providers, including multilingual information about mental health and wellbeing. Other resources and reportsThe Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is consulting on the Draft NSQHS Standards User guide for health service organisations providing care for patients from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Consultation on the draft will now run until June 2020 (previously April 3 2020). You can access the consultation draft here. Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) has released a report: The Impact of Coronavirus on Settlement Services: Consultation Report. The report is the result of a March 2020 member consultation which gauged the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on settlement agencies and the communities they support. This report outlines the key findings and recommendations. Read the report here. Telehealth Victoria Community of Practice has a useful ‘starter kit’ for health and social services. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released a report 'Preparedness, prevention and control of COVID-19 in prisons and other places of detention: Interim guidance'. The report discusses the high risk of COVID-19 outbreak in prisons and detention authorities, including immigration detention. WHO asserts each country has a responsibility to uphold the human rights of detainees, and makes recommendations for preparation, management and care for new cases of COVID-19. Professional development and eventsThe Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health has several upcoming free webinars including ‘Plain Language for written communication’ and ‘Translations: making a start’. You can book via Eventbrite here. About the Victorian Refugee Health NetworkThe Victorian Refugee Health Network brings together health, settlement and community services to be more accessible and responsive to the needs of people from refugee backgrounds, including people seeking asylum. The eBulletin provides a regular forum to share news, resources and information to support practitioners and services in providing health care to people from refugee backgrounds. ConnectYou can contact the Victorian Refugee Health Network secretariat at info@refugeehealthnetwork.org.au. |