Victorian Refugee Health Network

The Victorian Refugee Health Network was established in June, 2007 to facilitate greater coordination and collaboration amongst health and community services to provide more accessible and appropriate health services for people of refugee backgrounds.

Each year around 3,500 new refugees and humanitarian entrants come to Victoria from many parts of the world. Their health and well-being is often affected by their experiences of trauma and hardship as refugees, along with the many adjustments of resettlement. The Network provides a forum for health services and practitioners to work collaboratively to address these needs.

The Network brings together a wide range of representatives from the health, settlement and community sectors who actively participate in the projects and initiatives of the Network. This work builds on the many activities and programs around the state, past and current, to support refugee health and wellbeing.

This website provides information on services, resources, protocols and training opportunities. It will link service providers and give updates on news, policy developments, research, reports and useful websites. If you cannot find particular information regarding refugee health, please let us know!

Reference group

A Reference Group oversees the work of the Network. It comprises representatives from primary, acute and mental health care, general practice, settlement services, asylum seeker agencies and relevant State and Commonwealth departments. It works with representatives of refugee communities to identify and address emerging health issues.

Challenges for health services include the need to:

  • Build the capacity of primary health and specialist services particularly in regional and outer metropolitan areas
  • Improve service coordination particularly for newly arriving refugees during the early period of settlement
  • Address particular health issues such as sexual and reproductive health, communicable and other serious medical conditions, nutritional deficits leading to chronic and sometimes very serious health conditions, mental health and child and adolescent health issues
  • Further focus on health promotion.

The Network comprises a number of time-limited working groups to address particular health issues.

In 2007 working groups were established on:

  • Initial health assessment & ongoing care
  • Asylum seekers
  • Oral health.

In 2008 working groups were established on:

  • Mental health & wellbeing
  • Initial health assessment and ongoing care has divided into 2 smaller groups addressing (1) access to specialist care and (2) GP access & support.

A rural forum on refugee health was also held in 2008.

In 2009 working groups continued on:

  • GP access and support
  • Access to specialist care
  • Oral health

A forum on access to special care was held in 2009.

In 2010 working groups include:

  • GP access and support
  • Sexual and reproductive health
  • Maternity and antenatal care (later in 2010)

A rural forum on refugee health is planned for Aug 2010.