Victorian Refugee Health Network E-bulletin June 2010

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 of a refugee background.

News and Events

1. Refugee Health Series: for GPs, Refugee Health Nurses and Practice Nurses from the Northern Division of General Practice, the Dandenong Casey General Practice Association and Pivot West. Five sessions will be offered, with three at Foundation House Brunswick and one each at Pivot West and Dandenong. The first forum on Wednesday 16 June will address management of chronic pain in refugee patients presented by Heidi Wagner, David Kelly and Dr Paul Grinzi. It starts at 7.15pm – 9.15pm (light meals at 6:45pm) at Foundation House, 6 Gardiner St, Brunswick. Enquiries: Kay Dufty ph: 8480 4609 (Northern Division) Sonia Zahra ph: 9689 4566 (Pivot West) Click here for flyer.

2. Refugee Health Nurse Training - another two day introductory course will be held on 23 & 24 August, 2010, 9:30am - 4:15pm at Foundation House, Brunswick. The course is for refugee health, community and practice nurses who work with patients from a refugee background. For further information and a registration form click here.

3. Immigrant Women's Domestic Violence Services (IWDVS) - online survey. IWDVS has received funding to conduct research into the barriers and gaps faced by CALD victims of family violence when they access the legal / justice systems.  An online survey aimed at service providers who work with CALD women has been developed to gather perceptions about their experiences and barriers. Please follow this link www.surveymonkey.com/s/MQXGWKB to take the survey.  The survey will close 5pm 6 August. 

4. Refugee Week 20 - 26 June is fast approaching. A wide range of activities and events will be held such as the CMY Statewide Multicultural Sport Forum, 22 June, 9:30am - 12:30pm, Melbourne Bowls Club, Flagstaff Gardens. See www.cmy.net.au for more details and RSVP to info@cmy.net.au. For general information about Refugee Week from the RCOA website click here. For RCOA resources aimed at assisting community groups, teachers and event organisers click here. The leader news also has a page advertising local events, to view this page click here.

Resources

5. New E-Network for Aged and Disability Care Services. The Municipal Association of Victoria has established a new e-network for local council officers responsible for CALD access and equity in HACC-funded service provision. In partnership with the Centre for Culture Ethnicity & Health, the MAV will initially be offering four half-day workshops on 22 June, 27 July, 29 September and 23 November. For further information, email Con Pagonis: cpagonis@mav.asn.au.

6. Carlton - A Guide to Finding Help. The Carlton Local Agencies Network has developed a resource guide to help people locate services in the Carlton Area. For a copy of the guide in English click here, for Somali click here and for Arabic click here. 

7. The Step by Step Cookbook. Deakin University students in partnership with ISIS primary care have created a visual cookbook with pictures for each step of 30 healthy recipes. To see the cookbook click here. 

Professional Development

8. Foundation House's Semester 2, 2010 Training Calendar is now available. Foundation House offers training to other service providers in working with people from a refugee background in a variety of settings. For a copy of the calendar click here and for a registration form click here. 

9. Working Effectively with Young People Presenting with Mental Health Issues. If you are interested in engaging and communicating effectively with young people who present with mental health issues then this workshop will provide you with answers. The workshop will be delivered by Northern Melbourne Headspace, 21 June, 9:00am - 5:00pm, Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre, Cnr Bell Street & St Georges Road. Cost: $60.00. For more information contact  Effie Kapsalos on 03 9686 2354 or email ekapsalos@imvc.com.au and RSVP at: www.imvc.com.au/new_site/NDCO_Booking_Request.asp.

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: www.refugeehealthnetwork.org.au or email: ebulletin@refugeehealthnetwork.org.au

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