Refugee Health

Overview

Since 1998 GPV has worked on various projects with the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (VFST) and divisions with high refugee populations to support GPs working with refugees, to seek ways to increase the number of GPs willing to see refugee patients and to improve access to primary care for people from refugee backgrounds. GPV was funded by DHS to develop a template for refugee health assessments which has been accredited by RACGP.  This is available in word and as a template in Medical Director. There is also a guide to using Medical Director to complete the Refugee Health Assessment.

Currently GPV is working in two focus areas in refugee health: 

1. GPV is conducting a time limited project which includes attention to the under immunisation of children from refugee backgrounds
2. GPV chairs the GP Working Group of the Victorian Refugee Health Network established and supported by VFST.

  

Use of Refugee Health Assessment Items in Victorian Divisions

We have compiled Medicare statistics on the take-up the refugee health assessment items  for 2008-9 by division. In 2009 these items were used in 21 out of the 29 Victorian divisions areas.

Information for Practices seeing Refugees

The GP working group of the Victorian Refugee Health Network have prepared the following information sheets on

• Using the Telephone Interpreting Services (TIS) 
• Health information on refugees arriving via Christmas Island

Refugee Health Quizzes

A series of Refugee Health Quizzes have been produced to provide useful information for division staff for their practice visits and/or for use in small group learning sessions conducted for GPs and PNs who see patients of refugee background.

The quiz titled Give me 5!  is in several parts. Parts I and II are now available to view on the Resource Page.

For more information contact:

Annette Dupont, Refugee Program Consultant Ph 03 9341 5240 | Fax: 03 9341 5299 | Email: a.dupont@gpv.org.au