victorian refugee health network
 
 

~ June 2019 e-Bulletin ~

Image: Victorian Refugee Health Network participants at November 2018 statewide meeting (Photo credit: Annette Ruzicka Photography)

Language Services Innovation Grants Forum

The inaugural Language Services Innovation Grants Forum was held on 6 June 2019.


The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) funded Language Services Innovation Grants program began in 2017 as an initiative to increase the uptake of interpreters in public hospitals and boost access for patients from refugee backgrounds including those seeking asylum. Three health services delivered innovative two year pilot projects:

 

Measuring what matters; data systems to optimise outcomes for women who require an interpreter in maternity care

Monash Health piloted a project to implement a data system to measure the need for and provision of interpreters to women in maternity care.

 

Improving access to professional interpreters using videoconferencing

Melbourne Health piloted a project to increase access to professional interpreters using videoconferencing.

 

Improving access and equity in the West: language services

Western Health piloted a project to implement videoconferencing to increase access to professional interpreters, and to explore relationships with community health to better understand the needs of refugee background patients and boost access for this population.


The forum, chaired by Philip O’Meara, Director, Participation and Inclusion, DHHS, was attended by 40 guests from health services, language services, state government departments and community organisations. The agenda featured presentations from each of the projects, and a dynamic panel discussion, facilitated by Spase Velijanovski (CEH), allowing projects to share their learnings with a broader audience.


If you would like more information about any of the funded projects contact info@refugeehealthnetwork.org.au and we will put you in touch with the relevant person.


More information about the Language Services Innovation Grants program

Introducing Janet Pasricha – Refugee Health Fellow

We caught up with Janet Pasricha, new Refugee Health Fellow at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for the following profile.

Background in brief before taking this role:
Janet is an Infectious Diseases physician currently finishing a PhD in the immunology of tuberculosis. She has previously worked in the UK and India.

Reasons for choosing refugee health as a specialty:
Janet has a longstanding interest in global and refugee health and hopes to be able to do work that helps those who are most vulnerable in society.

Responsibilities in the Refugee Health Fellow role:
Clinical care, clinical education and community engagement, research.

Hobbies and interests outside of work:
Janet has three young kids so spends most of her spare time cleaning and finding socks! Janet loves music and fine arts and has a terrible weakness for flea markets and op shops

Availability and contact details:
Janet works Tuesdays and Thursdays and can be contacted at janet.pasricha@unimelb.edu.au or 8344 3704

More information about the Refugee Health Fellows program including contact details for all of the Fellows

Congratulations to Associate Professor Georgie Paxton

The Network would like to congratulate A/Prof Georgie Paxton, who was recently awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia for her service to community health and to refugees. Georgie is the Head of Immigrant Health at the Royal Children’s Hospital and an executive member and former chair of the Victorian Refugee Health Network. Congratulations Georgie on this important recognition of your unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of people from refugee backgrounds and people seeking asylum!

Northern Area Mental Health Service (NAHMS) has been renamed and is relocating

As of Thursday 13 June 2019 the Northern Area Mental Health Service Community Team North will be operating as Noogal Clinic, 16-20 Oleander Drive, Mill Park, Vic 3082; Telephone: 03 8468 3800; Fax: 03 8468 3801. Please note that arrangements for new and urgent referrals remains unchanged – referrals can continue to be made via 03 9408 9510 (business hours) and 1300 874 243 – NWMH Triage (outside business hours).

26 June - UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

June 26 is the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Download the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT)'s Global Reading.

RURAL AND REGIONAL NEWS - Refugee Week Business and Employee Recognition Awards in Bendigo

The inaugural Refugee Week Business and Employee Recognition Awards were held in Bendigo on World Refugee Day, Thursday June 20 2019. The awards, hosted by Rural Australians for Refugees with support from Grandmothers Against the Detention of Refugee Children, Friends and Mentors (refugee support group), Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services, Bendigo Community Health Service and the City of Greater Bendigo, celebrated employees from refugee backgrounds and local businesses committed to employing refugees. The awards were celebrated with a gala dinner and ceremony on Thursday night.


Winners on the night included Mad Cow Cleaning in the Small Business Recognition category, who offer training and ongoing employment to Karen refugees. Moira Mac’s Poultry and Fine Foods took home the Large Business Recognition award.


The night also featured a panel discussion with speakers Dean Russell, co-founder of Moira Mac’s Poultry, refugee advocate Helen Musk and Zahir Azimi of Bendigo Community Health.


Employment of people from refugee backgrounds is nothing new to Bendigo. According to an August 2018 report from Deloitte Access Economics and AMES Australia investigating the social and economic impact of the resettlement of Karen refugees in Bendigo, over 50 local businesses now employ Karen people from refugee backgrounds. The resettlement of Karen refugees in the Bendigo region was found to have had an economic impact of $67 million over ten years.


Bendigo’s Rural Australians for Refugees also run the Safe Haven Visits program, an initiative providing temporary accommodation, information, and links to community services and potential employers for SHEV holders who are interested in moving to Bendigo to fulfil the pathway requirement of their visa.

 

For more information about the awards contact rarbendigo@gmail.com and for more information about the Safe Haven Visits Program contact Linto Thomas, Community Development Coordinator at Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services, during office hours on (03) 5441 6644 or via email

 

Further reading about refugee resettlement in Bendigo

 

RESOURCES AND REPORTS

Translated information about the NDIS – Arabic
NDIS
The NDIS has released new translated information in Arabic. Topics include language interpreting services; psychosocial disability, recovery and the NDIS and; guide to self-management.
View the resources


Translated information about preeclampsia
The Royal Women’s Hospital has developed fact sheets explaining preeclampsia translated into a number of community languages including Arabic, Somali and Turkish.
View the resources


Bilingual information about menopause – Arabic and English
Family Planning NSW
Information about what menopause is, common symptoms and how to manage symptoms in Arabic and English.
View the resources


Translated information about technology and safety
Office of the eSafety Commissioner
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner has produced a series of guides for women experiencing technology-facilitated abuse. The guides are available in a number of community languages including Arabic, Tamil, Persian and Karen.
View the resources


Making a complaint in languages other than English
Disability Services Commissioner
Translated information about making a complaint to the Disability Services Commissioner. The information has been translated into a number of community languages including Amharic, Arabic, Dari, Dinka, Karen, Persian and Somali.
View the resources


Information sheets: Catch-up immunisation for refugees and asylum seekers
Victorian Refugee Health Network
We have updated the following information sheets about catch-up immunisation for refugees and asylum seekers:

 

Global trends: forced displacement in 2018
UNHCR
UNHCR have released their annual Global Trends report. Over the past decade, the global population of forcibly displaced people grew substantially from 43.3 million in 2009 to 70.8 million in 2018, reaching a record high.
Download the report


Risk Management in Immigration Detention
Australian Human Rights Commission
This report examines the human rights implications of current risk management practices in immigration detention. It is based on information gathered during inspections of four immigration detention facilities conducted in the latter part of 2018.

Download the report

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & EVENTS

New Health Literacy online training – trial for free in June
Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health (CEH)
CEH have developed a new Health Literacy Essentials online course. The course has four sections: Health Literacy Introduction; Health Literacy in Depth; Universal Precautions Approach; and Plain Language Communication. For the month of June CEH are giving away one free registration per organisation.
To get one free license for your organisation, contact Anni Tillack-Benton on annit@ceh.org.au


Doing it Differently: Putting ‘community’ at the centre of mental health practice
Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH) are hosting a forum for mental health consumers, practitioners and educators and health and community workers with an interest in mental health. The forum will feature communities and services who are finding innovative ways to put community at the centre of mental health care.
When: Thursday 1 August 2019, 9.30am – 4pm
Where: Hume Global Learning Centre, Broadmeadows
For more information register for updates


Communities and trauma: supporting recovery from collective trauma

Foundation House
Refugee and asylum seeking experiences tear at the social fabric tying people together. This workshop will explore some of the potential far reaching impacts of collective trauma for communities in the resettlement context and potential recovery processes.
When: Thurs 25 July 2019
Where: Foundation House Brunswick
Fee: $275
Suitable for: Anyone interested in working with communities whose members may be from refugee background eg bicultural workers, community development workers, education workers, community health workers etc.
Register and more information HERE


Community capacity building: engaging with communities about Mental Health

Foundation House
Explores barriers preventing people from refugee backgrounds from accessing support for mental health struggles, and examines ways of engaging with communities around issues affecting wellbeing
When: Thurs 8 Aug 9.30am - 4.30pm
Where: Foundation House Brunswick
Fee: $275
Suitable for: Anyone interested in working with communities whose members may be from refugee background eg bicultural workers, community development workers, education workers, community health workers etc.
Register HERE

About us

The 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.