Background
The increasing number of humanitarian entrants settling in regional NSW means local health districts may need to establish health services for refugee communities.
The Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) partnered with four local health districts (LHDs) to develop an online resource to guide healthcare workers and their community partners on how to establish trauma-informed and culturally safe health services for people from a refugee background.
It considers the needs of diverse community groups, and draws on the experiences of healthcare staff and refugee communities from the Hunter New England, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast and Murrumbidgee Local Health Districts. It highlights:
- 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.
This communications toolkit has been developed to help you share the resource and key messages with your staff and stakeholders.
Access the resource: Delivering healthcare to refugee communities in regional NSW.
Refugee health in regional areas is more specialised because there are more complexities to deal with. Guidance for LHDs is really important to provide appropriate and sensitive healthcare.
Article and images for newsletters, websites and intranets
Delivering culturally safe healthcare for refugee communities
A new online resource has been developed to guide healthcare workers and their community partners to set up health services for refugee communities in regional NSW.
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.
Drawing on the experiences of health staff and community members, Delivering healthcare to refugee communities in regional NSW reveals the key elements that contribute to a positive healthcare experience for people from refugee backgrounds:
- Understanding the unique needs of refugee communities
- Creating a culturally-safe environment
- Barriers and enablers
- Building networks and partnerships
- Cross-cultural communication
- Staff training and wellbeing.
The online resource highlights the experiences of health staff and new entrants into Australia, and provides practical advice and resources to support health managers and staff establish a new regional refugee health service.
This initiative is aligned to the goals of the NSW Refugee Health Plan 2022–2027; and is a joint initiative between the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, and Hunter New England, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast and Murrumbidgee Local Health Districts.
Learn more about Delivering healthcare to refugee communities in regional NSW.
Belinda Crain (standing), CEO Multicultural Council, Wagga Wagga, welcoming a family to the local health clinic.
Download image for use with article
Two children from Myanmar at the pathology clinic in Coffs Harbour. Children make up nearly 50% of Australia’s humanitarian intake.
Download image for use with article
Social media content
You can also share the ACI's content on LinkedIn or retweet content from @nswaci
For health professionals and clinicians
Option 1:
A new online resource will guide healthcare workers and their community partners on how to establish culturally safe health services for refugee communities in regional NSW: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/refugee
@nswaci @HNEHealth @IllaShoalHealth @MurrumbidgeeLHD @MNCLHD @NSWHealth
Option 2:
Every person from a refugee background has a unique path. Discover the key elements that support successful health outcomes for refugee communities in regional NSW. This new online resource includes insights from health staff and the community, and offers practical guidance on establishing a culturally safe refugee health service: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/refugee
This resource has been developed by the Agency for Clinical Innovation, Hunter New England, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast and Murrumbidgee Local Health Districts.
For project partners: Hunter New England, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast and Murrumbidgee Local Health Districts
We partnered with @nswaci and local health districts to share our experiences providing trauma-informed and culturally safe health services to people from refugee backgrounds in regional NSW.
Discover the key elements that support successful outcomes for refugee healthcare, including insights from the community and practical resources: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/refugee
Short videos for use on websites, intranets and social
NSW GPs provide important support to refugee communities
Vimeo link: https://vimeo.com/770991735
Option 1:
The relationship between general practitioners and people from refugee backgrounds is essential to ensuring they feel welcomed, listened to and culturally safe. Learn more: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/refugee/key-elements/culturally-safe
@nswaci @HNEHealth @IllaShoalHealth @MurrumbidgeeLHD @MNCLHD @NSWHealth
Option 2:
General practitioners play an important role ensuring people from refugee backgrounds feel welcomed, listened to and culturally safe. Two Ezidi community members living in Armidale share their experience.
Learn more about creating a culturally safe environment for people from refugee backgrounds: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/refugee/key-elements/culturally-safe
Building trust is key to delivering healthcare to refugee communities
Vimeo link: https://vimeo.com/763637104
For health professionals and clinicians
Option 1:
Building trust and maintaining open communication are key to delivering healthcare to people from refugee backgrounds. It is important they feel safe when receiving care. Learn more about delivering healthcare to refugee communities in regional NSW: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/refugee
@nswaci @HNEHealth @IllaShoalHealth @MurrumbidgeeLHD @MNCLHD @NSWHealth
Option 2:
Patient confidentially and building trust is important when delivering healthcare to people from refugee backgrounds. Learn more about understanding the unique needs of refugee communities to deliver effective healthcare: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/refugee/key-elements/understand-unique-needs
For project partners: Hunter New England, Illawarra Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast and Murrumbidgee Local Health Districts
Our regional healthcare workers are helping people from refugee backgrounds by building trust and listening to create personalised healthcare.
We’ve shared our lessons learnt to inform a new online resource to guide other healthcare workers and community partners on how to establish culturally safe health services for refugee communities: https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/refugee