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Refugee Health Network of Australia

The Refugee Health Network of Australia (RHeaNA) is a network of health professionals with expertise in refugee health representing every State and Territory. The purpose of the network is to improve the delivery of health care to refugees and those from refugee-like backgrounds in Australia.

RHeaNA is a volunteer-run organisation that developed in response to the need for refugee health professionals across Australia to communicate with each other at a national level. RHeaNA has a multidisciplinary focus and includes clinicians (medical practitioners, nurses and mental health workers), policy experts, health service managers and researchers. The Network draws on the expertise of specialists in the field of primary health care, mental health, infectious disease, paediatrics and public health. Our network has extensive experience in providing healthcare to people of refugee-background in Australia including newly arrived refugees who are being supported by settlement services.

RHeaNA takes a strong partnership approach and aims to achieve its objectives by collaborating with all key stakeholders.

RHeaNA aims to:

  • Inform and support – quality holistic health care for refugees in Australia
  • Provide informed advice – on current and emerging issues in refugee health in Australia; including to policy-makers at Commonwealth and State/Territory level
  • Support the exchange of information – between providers of refugee health care across Australia and other relevant stakeholders
  • Develop a national research agenda – for refugee health, promote and facilitate research in this field and help disseminate research findings

Find your state contact here.

The current RHeaNA chair is Dr Toni Maldari at Refugee Health Service at SA Health. 

The Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma

FASSTT

The Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) brings together eight specialist agencies that provide recovery services for people who have survived torture and refugee trauma.

Each agency is a recognised expert in refugee trauma recovery, delivering a continuum of care that supports individuals, families, and communities to heal and rebuild their lives after experiences of persecution, displacement, and loss.

Together, these agencies form a national trauma recovery network with a shared vision, shared principles, and a commitment to collective learning and action.

FASSTT agencies operate in every state and territory of Australia:

Refugee Nurses of Australia (RNA)

Refugee Nurses of Australia

The Refugee Nurses of Australia (RNA) network was recently formed in January 2016 by lead Refugee Health Nurses across Australia. There are Refugee Health Nurses in every state and territory. The RNA has a national focus and provides an opportunity for nurses working with people from refugee background to share resources, be advocates, contribute to clinical guidelines and be involved in community of practice opportunities.

Objectives of the RNA are:

  • Provide a forum for exchange of information and resources between refugee health nurses and other relevant stakeholders across Australia.
  • Promote best practice in refugee health nursing through quality improvements and evidenced based research
  • Provide leadership in the development of a national refugee health nurse clinical practice framework including scope of practice, credentialing and models of care.
  • Advocate for refugee and asylum seeker issues.

State and Territory Contacts

NSW

Sandy Eagar, Nurse Manager – NSW Refugee Health Service
sandy.eagar@health.nsw.gov.au

Michele Greenwood, Refugee Multicultural Health Clinical Nurse Specialist
michele.greenwood@health.nsw.gov.au
QLD

Meryl Jones, Nurse Unit Manager – Mater Refugee and Multicultural Health Service
mirhs@mater.org.au

Leeanne Schmidt, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Metro South Refugee Health Service
Leeanne.Schmidt@health.qld.gov.au
VIC Kath Desmyth, Statewide Facilitator – Refugee Health Program
kath.Desmyth@cohealth.org.au
SA Liana Granello, Refugee Health Nurse – Refugee Health Service | SA Health
Liana.Granello@sa.gov.au
WA Brenda Kamau, Clinical Nurse Manager – Western Australia Humanitarian Entrant Health Service
MigrantHealth@health.wa.gov.au
TAS

Tom Millen, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Refugee Health Services – North
tom.millen@ths.tas.gov.au

Janelle Jozefiak, Clinical Nurse Consultant – Refugee and Humanitarian Arrival Clinic (RAHAC) – South
janelle.jozefiak@ths.tas.gov.au
ACT

Allison McGurgan, Lead Practice Nurse – Companion House
allison.mcgurgan@companionhouse.org.au
NT Melaleuca Health Support Services
admin@melaleuca.org.au

 

RACGP Specific Interest Group (SIG) – Migrant, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health

 
The specific interest of the RACGP Migrant, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health SIG is refugee health and the primary role of the GP in seeing newly-arrived refugees for health assessments, as well as caring for people of refugee background who are longer-term residents of Australia.

GPs play a crucial role as an introduction to healthcare in Australia through their provision of assessment, intervention and primary care and identifying issues requiring referral to specialist services and/or allied health care. Our skill set comprises knowledge and expertise in a range of areas including infectious and parasitic diseases, specialised mental health and trauma, nutritional deficiency, women’s health, sexual and reproductive health and paediatric concerns, all with a specific refugee focus.

The activities of the SIG are to:

  • provide GP peer and student education on refugee health
  • promote general practice research in refugee health
  • assist in policy review and development based on our extensive frontline understanding of issues
  • provide mutual peer support and collaborative approaches to care
  • liaise with other medical/health and settlement organisations and networks
  • provide advocacy in terms of social justice and equality of access for this particularly vulnerable client group.

The Chair of this group is Dr Rachel Claydon. 

Produced by

in consultation with

                  

Endorsed by (2018-2021)

 

Funded by

The Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide was produced with funds from the Australian Government Department of Health.

Disclaimer

The information set out in the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide (“the Guide”) is current at the date of first publication and is intended for use as a guide of a general nature only and may or may not be relevant to particular patients or circumstances. Nor is the Guide exhaustive of the subject matter. Persons implementing any recommendations contained in the Guide must exercise their own independent skill or judgement or seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their own particular circumstances when so doing. The statements or opinions that are expressed in the Guide reflect the views of the contributing authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the editors or Foundation House. Compliance with any recommendations cannot of itself guarantee discharge of the duty of care owed to patients and others coming into contact with the health professional and the premises from which the health professional operates.

Whilst the information is directed to health professionals possessing appropriate qualifications and skills in ascertaining and discharging their professional (including legal) duties, it is not to be regarded as clinical advice and, in particular, is no substitute for a full examination and consideration of medical history in reaching a diagnosis and treatment based on accepted clinical practices.

Accordingly, Foundation House and its employees and agents shall have no liability (including without limitation liability by reason of negligence) to any users of the information contained in the Guide for any loss or damage (consequential or otherwise), cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person using or relying on the information contained in the Guide and whether caused by reason of any error, negligent act, omission or misrepresentation in the information. Although every effort has been made to ensure that drug doses and other information are presented accurately in the Guide, the ultimate responsibility rests with the prescribing clinician. For detailed prescribing information or instructions on the use of any product described herein, please consult the prescribing information issued by the manufacturer.