Photo: Victorian Refugee Health Network participants at a statewide meeting in November 2018. Photo credit: Annette Ruzicka Photography

Exciting new project! Reducing Racism: engaging Victoria’s African and Muslim communities

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission’s new project, Reducing Racism, aims to engage Victoria’s African and Muslim communities to help them understand their rights when it comes to reporting racism.

The project has supported ten young African Victorians to graduate as African Ambassadors, enabling them to become advocates for their communities. The project has also developed a Community Reporting Tool, allowing people to report instances of racism securely and confidentially to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

For more information about the project, and to trial the Community Reporting Tool

NDIS Information Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Mainstream Capacity Building Program (Health) grant round now open

This grant round aims to fund activities that build the capacity of mainstream health organisations, by making sure they have the knowledge and skills they need to meet the needs of people with disability. The NDIA has identified CALD communities as a priority group for this funding. More information, including how to apply

Updated NDIS price guide

The NDIS price guide has been updated, with more than 90 new disability-related health supports to now be funded under the NDIS. More information

RESOURCES AND REPORTS

LGBTIQ Intersect

This web-based resource, co-designed and co-produced by Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH), for community members and practitioners, promotes the ongoing development of culturally safe and responsive LGBTIQ+ inclusive services.
View the website

NDIS Therapy Reports
Valid
VALID’s guide to National Disability Insurance Scheme therapist reports for allied health professionals is a 20-page good practice guide which uses clear sections and headings and an easy to read layout, for therapists as they prepare reports for NDIS participants. It was developed by VALID advocates with expertise in providing advocacy support to people with intellectual disabilities.

View the resource

Sexual and reproductive health resources in community languages
New consumer health information in community languages has been developed as part of implementing Victorian Government’s Women’s sexual and reproductive health plan “Key Priorities” (2017-2020) plan.
• Contraception Choices in Australia is available in Amharic, Somali, Oromo, Harari, Karen, Nuer, Hakha Chin, Tigrinya and Dari
• Abortion in Victoria is available in Amharic, Arabic, Oromo, Assyrian, Burmese, Dari, Dinka, Harari, Karen, Khmer, Nuer, Somali, Swahili, Tigrinya and Thai

Bilingual resource: Self-esteem for life in Arabic and English 
NSW Government, Family and Community Services
The NSW Government, Family and Community Services has developed communication fact sheets for parents of teenagers. 
Download the resource

Translated resource: Family health and wellbeing
Parenting South Australia
Parenting South Australia has developed a series of easy parenting guides about family health and well being in Arabic, Dari, Dinka, French, Swahili and English.
Download the resources

Translated resource: Medicines list
The National Prescribing Service (NPS)
The NPS have updated their medicines list in Arabic, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Croatian, Greek, Italian, Korean, Macedonian, Spanish, Vietnamese and English.
Download the resource

Translated resource: Planning for a healthy pregnancy
MotherSafe, The NSW Medications in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Service, and The Royal Hospital for Women
These fact sheets about planning for a healthy pregnancy are available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Spanish and English. 
Download the resource

Translated Child Safe resources for faith communities
Commission for Children and Young People
The following resources for faith communities have been translated into a number of community languages including Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Dinka, Pashto and Farsi.

• Taking children’s rights seriously
• Child Safe Standards
• Reportable Conduct Scheme information sheets
• A guide for faith communities on the Reportable Conduct Scheme

View the resources here

Translated information about Hepatitis B and C
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne have developed a number of translated resources in languages including Vietnamese, Khmer, Karen, Dari and Burmese.
View the resources here
Hard copies of the resources can also be requested, for more information contact Gabrielle Bennett, Victorian Viral Hepatitis Educator Gabrielle.BENNETT@svha.org.au

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & EVENTS

Translating LGBTIQA+ Terminology: a workshop for NAATI certified translators
Ananda Training & Consultancy and Sylaba Translations
This free workshop will provide a platform to exchange knowledge and discuss how to best translate for LGBTIQA+ communities in a respectful and culturally appropriate way.
When: Tuesday, 15 October 2019, 10am – 12pm
Where: Dream Factory, 90 Maribyrnong Street, Footscray
More information and registrations

Understanding the NDIS for Bicultural Workers
The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health

CEH is conducting workshops to improve the understanding of the NDIS in the bicultural workforce. In this two-hour workshop, you will learn:

• What is the NDIS and how did it come about?
• How the rollout of the NDIS is progressing in Victoria, and who is receiving support.
• How to apply for the NDIS and what happens next.
• NDIS concepts and key terms, and how to translate them in your language.
• How to access free interpreting services for NDIS participants.

When: Tuesday 29th October 2019 – 10am to 12pm
Where: Dandenong Civic Building, Meeting Rooms NW and NE (Level 2), 225 Lonsdale St, Dandenong 
For further information, you can contact Sophie Dutertre or register here

Why We Matter Forum
ECCV, CMY and Intercultural Young Advocacy Leaders
The ECCV Intercultural Young Advocacy Leaders (IYAL) group invites young people and decision-makers to this unique networking and capacity-building forum. The forum is designed to build capacity for young people through training workshops, info-sharing sessions and guest speaker presentations.
When: Thursday, 24 October 2019, 10am – 3pm
Where: Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
More information

Serving Multicultural Communities: Cross-Cultural Responsiveness Training for Administrative Staff
Brotherhood of St Laurence
This training will provide practical tips on how we can be culturally sensitive and responsive in how we present our reception spaces, offices as well as in our reception liaison to ensure everyone feels comfortable and accepted.
When: Friday 11 October 2019, 9.30am to 12.30pm – please arrive 15 minutes early to settle in
Where: Epping Community Services Hub, 713 High Street, Epping – Multipurpose Room 1 (accessible via Epping train station and buses 358, 901 and 569)
To register or for more information please contact Kelly on (03) 9422 5668 or xcrt@bsl.org.au
TAILORED WORKSHOPS ON-SITE: If you would prefer a separate session tailored to your team at your workplace, please contact Ms Hutch Hussein or hutchhussein@bsl.org.au or 0438 507 103

Connecting with Tomorrow: Enhancing Health Literacy, Eliminating Inequity

Swinburne University of Technology

A 3-day intensive masterclass for managers, executives, health professionals, health planners, policy makers, researchers and those active in health promotion and community services. This masterclass will include:

• Understanding the scope and determinants of health literacy
• Designing your own health literacy intervention
• The role of health literacy in health inequality
• Using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) to identify diverse health literacy challenges
• Applying the Ophelia process in your setting – implementation and evaluation of interventions
• Participatory and place-based approaches to health literacy (organisational and community)
• International perspectives in health literacy policy and practice

When: Monday 25th – Wednesday 27th November 2019
Where: Swinburne University of Technology, Building SPS, Rooms 136 & 137, John Street Hawthorn VIC 3122
Cost: $1,250 plus GST includes learning materials, morning, afternoon tea and lunch. (Early-bird rate of $1,000 plus GST until 5pm 27th October 2019)
More information and registrations

Incidental Counselling Skills for Working with Young People
Foundation House
An approach to working with young people from refugee backgrounds in a range of settings, for people not formally trained as counsellors.
When: Thursday 24 and Thursday 31 October
Where: Foundation House, 4 Gardiner Street, Brunswick
Register and more information

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.