Victorian Refugee Health Network E-bulletin July 2009

The Victorian Refugee Health Network brings together health, settlement and community services to be more accessible and responsive to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers.
The E- bulletin provides a regular forum to share news and information to support practitioners and services in providing health care to people from a refugee background.

News and Events

1. Refugee Health in General Practice: a training opportunity offered by the Melbourne East, Knox and Eastern Ranges Divisions of General Practice. This accredited Active Learning Module is suitable for GPs, Practice Nurses and staff to work more effectively with people from a refugee background. Date: 4 and 11 August; Time: 6:30 - 9:30pm (dinner provided). Location: Knox Division of General Practice, 1350 Fern Tree Gully Rd, Scoresby 3179. For further information or to RSVP contact Pallavi Yagnik at OEPCP on (03) 9879 4282. Flyer with information and registration click here.

2. Refugee Health Topic table at the General Practice and Primary Health Care  Research Conference at the Melbourne Crown Promenade Hotel, July 15-17 is organised for Thursday, 16 July at 1pm. This topic table has been organised by Refugee Health Network of Australia representatives from QLD, NSW and VIC to discuss current research interests and possible future collaboration. The cost for attending the topic table is $40 (includes lunch).
For more information contact the Conference Manager, Renae Shepherd on renae@conlog.com.au  or go to the conference website: http://www.phcris.org.au/conference/2009/index.php

3. Beyond the Refugee Journey is a unique 2 day event organised by AMES  to provide a forum for people from refugee backgrounds to interact with employment agencies and obtain information about how to look for a job and provide job search tips and tools. Dates: Wednesday 22 July 8.30am-5pm at the MCG and Thursday 23 July, 10am-3pm at the Multicultural Hub. Cost: $25 includes attendance for both days and lunch at the MCG. To register contact: Cindy Tran (03) 9938 4772 or email TranC@ames.net.au  For information, registration and directions click here.

4.  Narrative-based health promotion for immigrant and refugee women: the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH),  in collaboration with international guest speaker Professor Trisha Greenhalgh, will present a seminar on using narratives to improve the health of immigrant and refugee communities. Date: Tuesday 28 July, 9:00am-1:00pm at MCWH, Suite 207, Level 2, Carringbush building, 134 Cambridge Street, Collingwood. Cost: $65 (includes lunch). Enquiries and RSVP (by Wed 22 July): (03) 9418 0999 or email: reception@mcwh.com.au

Resources

5.  Health Assessment for Refugees and Humanitarian Entrants Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Item 714 and 716. Useful resources on conducting this health assessment are on the Department of Health and Ageing Enhanced Primary Care Program webpage including a Fact Sheet, Questions and Answers, Health Assessment Proforma and Health Assessment template. For information and explanatory notes about the MBS Refugee Health Assessment  click here.

6. Teeth Tales Newsletter June 2009: This newsletter provides research findings and updates on a project which explores the socio-cultural determinants of children's oral health from refugee and migrant communitees. Teeth Tales is a  partnership project between The McCaughey Centre, Merri Community Health Services, Arabic Welfare, Pakistani Association Australia Melbourne, Victorian Arabic Social Services and Dental Health Services Victoria. The research involves working with refugee and migrant communities from Iraq, Lebanon and Pakistan to explore the social, cultural and environmental influences of child oral health in these communities. Click here.

7. Finding the Right help for Mental Health Problems: Services for culturally diverse patients in the Northern Region (July 2008). Developed by Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities (ADEC) and the Northern Division of General Practice (NDGP) this chart lists services which specifically tailor their services to the mental health needs of CALD patients. Click here.

Professional Development

8.  Cross-cultural Mental Health Care in General Practice: A Distance Education Unit offered by the NSW Institute of Psychiatry & NSW Transcultural Mental Health Centre. It will provide GPs with the skills and knowledge to build better therapeutic relationships and work more effectively with patients from CALD backgrounds. GPs from rural and remote areas encouraged to apply. Semester: 27 July - 20 November, 2009. Scholarships available. For further information on the unit and scholarships contact Jennifer Herron on (02) 9840 3800 or email: Jennifer_Herron@wsahs.health.nsw.gov.au

9. Reminder! Nurses for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (NRAS) ANF Special Interest Group will meet on Tuesday, 21 July, 6-8.30pm. Guest speaker Julian Burnside QC, will speak on 'Human rights and Access to Services for Refugees and Asylum Seekers'. Three newly arrived migrants will also share their personal experiences. Where: ANF House, 540 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. Cost: Members free & Non-Members $5. RSVP: Vanessa Standfield on (03) 9275 9333 or email: vanessa@anfvic.asn.au or click here for Flyer. NRAS brochure, click here.

10. Reminder! The 1st Australasian Refugee Health Conference is being held on 1–2 September 2009, at Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. Research papers, interactive workshops and symposiums will cover a wide range of subjects including infectious diseases, refugee child health, catch-up vaccination, refugee health assessment, vitamin D deficiency. Keynote speakers include: Prof Kim Mulholland, Dr Jill Benson and Prof Carmen Lawrence.For details and registration, please go to: http://www.health.wa.gov.au/mentalhealth/events/refugee_health.cfm


Subscriptions and contributions to The Victorian Refugee Health Network E-Bulletin are welcome. If you would like to subscribe or send news or information relevant to refugee health please go to the Contact Us page on the Refugee Health Network website at www.refugeehealthnetwork.org.au or email: refugeehealth@foundationhouse.org.au

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