| Victorian Refugee Health Network E-bulletin November 2008 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. The new Victorian Refugee Health and Wellbeing Action Plan 2008-10 and the Victorian Refugee Health Network and website will be launched by the The Hon. Daniel Andrews, Minister for Health and eminent Australian scientist and humanitarian, Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE on December 16th at Foundation House. Click here for details. 2.The National Refugee Primary Health Care Conference hosted by the Queensland Integrated Refugee Community Health (QIRCH) Clinic was held in Brisbane on November 26th and 27th with more than 230 participants. To find out more about the conference presentations and particpants contact QIRCH via the QIRCH website. 3. The Refugee and Immigrant Health Small Learning Group of the Northern Division of General Practice invite others with an interest in refugee health to join them for dinner at Nyala African Restaurant on Monday 8 December at 7pm. Click here for details. 4. The Refugee Health Research Centre, with VicHealth and Foundation House, will launch a documentary: Home: An exploratory journey with young Somali-Australians on Monday 8 December, 6.30- 8 pm at the John Scott Meeting House, La Trobe University. Contact Estelle Purchas on 9479 5874 or email: e.purchas@latrobe.edu.au Resources 5. Priority Access to all Community Health Services for Refugees. In recognition of refugees health needs that require early attention after settlement, the Primary Health Towards a demand management framework prioritises refugees for access to all community health services, including dental. To access this document click here. 6. Asylum Seeker Access to DHS Services: A new DHS pamphlet provides information on Medicare ineligible asylum seekers access to public hospital services and other DHS program areas such as ambulance, community health, public dental, disability aids and equipment. Go to: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/multicultural/html/refugee_action.htm 7. PapScreen Victoria has produced new resources to increase awareness of cervical cancer in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. They include a cervical cancer prevention flipchart for health workers, information sheets and multilingual posters. Go to information sheets at www.papscreen.org.au Professional Development 8. Scholarships for Cross-cultural Mental Health Care in General Practice are currently being offered through the NSW Institute of Psychiatry and NSW Transcultural Mental Health Centre for GPs or GP registrars practising anywhere in Australia. For information on this course click here. 9. Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre are offering a free training course in 2009 'Working Together with Alcohol and Drug Issues in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Communities'. For more information click here. 10. A GP Refugee Health Forum was held on October 18th with over 50 participants. The forum was organised by the Refugee and Immigrant Health Small Learning Groups from the Northern Division of General Practice, PivotWest and the Dandenong Casey GP Association and covered topics such as infectious diseases, vitamin D, family violence, genetics and chronic disease. Contact details for the Refugee and Immigrant Health Small Learning Groups click here. 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 |