June updates
No images? Click here
In this June issue:
- News and Events
- Health and Community-based resources
- COVID-19 Updates
- Research, Submissions and Advocacy Opportunities
- Professional Development Opportunities
News and Events
2023/24 Federal Budget neglects overwhelmed and underfunded settlement sector
The Federal Government has not gone far enough to address the growing pressures facing our neglected settlement service industry, with many migrants and refugees left behind in the 2023/24 Budget. The organisations delivering the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) program– one of the main programs supporting migrants and refugees–have faced consecutive funding cuts which have reached a critical level, with staff burnout and financial pressures threatening the quality of service delivery, and ultimately settlement outcomes."
Refugee Week Events Calendar
From Sunday 18 to Saturday 24 June 2023 Refugee Week will be celebrated with the theme of 'Finding Freedom'
If you have resources that you think others could use, perhaps you have written a song, a poem or just know of a great film others should watch, then please email them to refugeeweek@refugeecouncil.org.au
For more resources about getting involved and a list of events click the links below:
Free Travel for people experiencing disadvantage
Approved community service organisations and education providers can issue Travel Pass tickets for free at their discretion to their clients and students for many reasons. Community service organisations and education providers wishing to become approved Travel Pass issuers should email ticketingservices@ptv.vic.gov.au for more information.
For more information click the lick below:
Power Saving Bonus
On 24 March 2023, a new round of the Power Saving Bonus program commenced. Victorian households are now able to receive a new $250 payment, including any households that received a payment through previous rounds of the program.
Click the link below of eligibility requirements and application:
Health and community-based resources
Bendigo Community Health Services (BCHS), Loddon Mallee Integrated Cancer Service (LMICS) and the Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre (BRCC) seek to address socioeconomic disadvantage by responding to the needs of diverse communities. This includes a focus on increased equitable participation in population cancer screening programs, improved health and service literacy, and primary care capacity to support early diagnosis and cancer care pathways. Importantly, the plan has been informed by learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic, with a commitment to delivering alternative models.
For more information contact Abbie Lockwood on AbbieLockwood@bchs.com.au
Are you an organisation who works with communities from migrant, refugee and asylum seeker background?
The Water Well Project delivers free, interactive and culturally responsive health education sessions in 41 languages across NSW, Tasmania and Victoria. Sessions are facilitated by volunteer healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals) with 42 health topics available.
If you would like to book a free health education session with The Water Well Project, please contact Freya, the Project Administrator on 0402 270 383 or via email projectadmin@thewaterwellproject.org
For more information click the link below
Specialised and Intensive Services (SIS)
Specialised and Intensive Services (SIS) is a component of the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP). Through the SIS, humanitarian entrants and other eligible visa holders with complex settlement needs can receive short-term, specialised support to help them access appropriate mainstream services and develop the necessary skills to manage their needs independently.
To find out more about the SIS, including eligibility criteria and how to submit a referral, please refer to the Department’s in the link below:
Sexual assault fact sheets in Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, Malaysian and Swahili
Government of Western Australia Northern Metropolitan Service and Sexual Assault Resource Centre has developed fact sheets about sexual assault in Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, Malaysian and Swahili.
You can read more about sexual assault by using the link below:
High-protein, high-energy diet for advanced liver disease in Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional and Vietnamese
Gastroenterological Society of Australia has developed fact sheets about high-protein, high-energy diet for advanced liver disease in Arabic, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional and Vietnamese.
You can read more about high-protein, high-energy diet for advanced liver disease by using the link below:
Health Translations - a complete collection of multilingual health and wellbeing information
Health Translations is a free online library of high-quality translated Australian health and wellbeing information for Australian health practitioners working with multicultural communities. In addition, a monthly newsletter is published on the second week of the month. May/ June news features the latest multilingual resources on COVID-19, parenting, early learning, heart health, the Australian health system, disabilities and women's health to help Victoria's service providers and multicultural communities stay safe and informed.
Stay Well this Winter 2023- Stakeholder pack
The pack contains information and messages tailored to different audiences in 17 languages . You can download the asset for the audience that best suits your network.
You can help by:
- Sharing the materials from this stakeholder kit with your community via social media and digital platforms.
- Printing and displaying posters in this pack at your local community centre, place of work or community recreational spaces.
- Directing people to the Better Health Channel website for current information and updates:
COVID-19 Updates
COVID-19 Chief Health Officer Update
There were 10,642 COVID-19 cases reported in Victoria this week as of 26th of May 2023, an increase of 15 per cent on the previous week. The average daily number of new cases this week was 1,520, up from 1,325 last week.
Click HERE to read full update
Antiviral Therapies for COVID-19
The North East Public Health Unit (NEPHU) has developed a plain language resource that outlines antiviral remedies for Covid-19.
The factsheet includes information on:
· What are antivirals?
· What antivirals are there for COVID-19?
· Are you eligible for antiviral therapy?
You can download or print the flyer to share with your community in the link below:
Research, Submissions & Advocacy Opportunities
Expression of Interest Form- Supporting Choice for Cervical Screening: Interviews with healthcare workers
Researchers from the University of Melbourne and the Daffodil Centre, a joint venture between Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney, invite staff from services who provide care to people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds to take part in an interview about facilitating access to cervical screening. They want to find out about what has been done, and what more could be done to make sure cervical screening is safe, accessible, and acceptable to everyone.
If you are interested in taking part in an interview, please click the link below:
Information sessions on grant applications
The city of Yarra is investing $1.3 million in the community as part of our 2024 Annual Grants program. If you've got a local community project, artwork or idea that would benefit from grants funding, join one of free information sessions to learn more about the application process and get started.
For accessibility requirements and interpreter bookings please call 9205 5146 or email michael.vanvliet@yarracity.vic.gov.au.
For dates, time and locations click below:
Survey for Senate Inquiry into Provision of and Access to Dental Services in Australia
On 8 March 2023, the Senate resolved that the Select Committee into the Provision of and Access to Dental Services in Australia be established. The Senate Committee has a survey seeking community views on access to dental/oral health services in Australia.
Submissions close on 4 June 2023.
For more information and to make a submission click the link below:
Professional Learning Opportunities
Foundation House Professional Learning Calendar
Trauma-informed Practice with Newly Arrived People from Afghanistan - in GP Practices
When: Tuesday 20 June, 1 – 2pm online
Where: Webinar
Provides an understanding of the challenges facing newly arrived people from Afghanistan, and an awareness of the potential impacts of recent events, including for longer-term residents. Key principles of Trauma-Informed Practice and the Foundation House Trauma Recovery Framework will be explored in relation to promoting client recovery.
For more details and to register click HERE
Counselling and Psychotherapy with Survivors of Trauma
When: Thurs 22 June, 9.30 – 4pm
Where: Foundation House, Brunswick
Knowledge, skills and insights to provide effective counselling and psychotherapy to survivors of torture and other traumatic experiences.
This Foundation House Blended Course provides self paced online materials to be completed before an onsite interactive workshop
For more details and to register click HERE.
Webinar: Behaviour support for children with disability: working alongside parents
When: 7 June 2023, 01:00PM to 02:00PM
This is an introductory level webinar recommended for practitioners and service providers working with parents of children with disability which aims to:
- Develop an understanding of how behaviour can be a form of communication for children with disability
- Explore approaches and supports to help both parents and children identify and respond to nonverbal communication
- Develop insight into parent experiences of providing care to a child with disability.
For more information and to register for the webinar click the link below:
Webinar: Supporting culturally and linguistically diverse children and families who experience racism
When: 14 June 2023, 01:00 PM to 02:00 PM
This webinar is for practitioners who work with children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds which aims to:
- Increase awareness of the effects of racism on child and family mental and emotional health and relationships
- Identify the support that parents from a CALD background need to support their child’s mental health and wellbeing
- Provide guidance on how practitioners can discuss and address racism.
For more information and to register for the webinar click the link below:
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)- Two day
ASIST is founded on the principle that everyone can make a difference in preventing suicide. The more people in the community who have suicide intervention training, the more likely it is they will be able to identify someone at risk and intervene to keep them safe. The training is open to community members and health professionals (over the age of 16) with a maximum of 25 participants.
Where: 118 Pine Avenue, Mildura
When: Thursday 27 and Friday 28 July 9.30am – 5.30pm- Click HERE to register OR Thursday 5 and Friday 6 October 9.30am – 5.30pm- Click HERE to register
Social, cultural and clinical aspects of female genital cutting training
When: 27 Jun 2023 06:30 PM - 08:30 PM
The aim of this training is to increase access to culturally, socially and clinically appropriate health services and support to women and girls from female genital cutting or circumcision (FGC) practising communities.
For more information and to register for the webinar click the link below:
Webinar - Culturally Competent Approaches to Evaluation
When: 6/8/2023, 12:00 PM - 6/8/2023, 12:30 PM - (UTC+10:00) Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Where: Microsoft Teams meeting
In this focused session, you'll learn about culturally competent evaluation methods to help ensure that programs targeting migrants and refugees are both inclusive and effective. While briefly touching on program design, the main emphasis will be on evaluating programs to achieve better outcomes for these communities.
To register click the link below:
About the Victorian Refugee Health Network
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 e-Bulletin provides a regular forum to share news, resources and information to support practitioners and services in providing health care to people from refugee backgrounds.
Connect
You can contact the Victorian Refugee Health Network secretariat at refugeehealth@foundationhouse.org.au You can subscribe to become a Network Member.
