A new resource is supporting regional teams to understand and provide health services tailored to the specific needs and experiences of refugee communities.
Every person from a refugee background has a unique, complex and often traumatic path to resettlement in Australia. Upon arrival, they can face multiple challenges, including language difficulties, securing housing, organising schooling and resolving health problems.
The increasing number of humanitarian entrants settling in regional NSW means local health districts (LHDs) may need to establish refugee health services in a very short timeframe. In response, the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) partnered with four local health districts to develop an online resource. It aims to guide healthcare workers and their community partners to establish trauma-informed and culturally safe health services for refugee communities in regional NSW.
Delivering healthcare to refugee communities in regional NSW draws on the experiences of healthcare staff and refugee communities from the Hunter New England, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast and Murrumbidgee LHDs. It outlines:
- the common elements that contribute to a positive experience and better health outcomes for people from refugee backgrounds
- practical steps and useful resources to guide NSW Health services, staff and their community partners on how to establish a regional refugee health service
- detailed case studies outlining organisational models, local community needs and lessons learnt.
We experienced rapid growth in the Armidale refugee settlement, which could occur in other regional areas at short notice. This web resource will be a great tool to help clinicians, managers and administration staff to navigate this.
Dominique Holt and Jessika Schmidt from the ACI’s project team visited three LHDs and conducted a virtual tour to the fourth due to COVID-19 concerns. The site visits increased their understanding of the services, staff needs and available resources. It also allowed them to interview clinicians and meet with community members from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Burma/Myanmar and Africa.
“From the outset, we carefully cultivated relationships to create this one-stop holistic resource,” says Jessika. “We had to remain flexible and design the project as it evolved,” adds Dominique. “This enabled us to ensure the project truly reflected what was important.”
While the resource aims to support the rapid establishment of services, Lea Kirkwood, ACI’s Director of System Transformation Enablement and Patient Partnerships, explains the broader value. “The website has fantastic tools for any clinician who works with refugees,” she says. “I learnt so much about the settlement process. For example, the services that are available for refugees and clinicians, the different communities settled in NSW and the importance of cross-cultural communication. I’d encourage everyone to take a look and watch the heart-warming videos from health workers and community members.”
Visit the website: Delivering healthcare to refugee communities in regional NSW