National Collaboration on Health Care for Refugees
The Refugee Health Network of Australia provides a forum for collaboration and communication between primary health care practitioners, policy-makers and researchers, to support more effective health care for refugees and those from refugee-like backgrounds living in Australia.
RHeaNA’s aims
Find state contacts
Submissions
Resources
What is RHeaNA?
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.
Our aims
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
ACT
Companion House is a non-government community based organisation working with adults and children who have sought safety in Australia from torture and war related trauma.
The Medical Service provides general practice and primary health services for asylum seekers and people from refugee backgrounds with complex needs. The service includes facilitated referrals to dental, allied health and specialists.
New South Wales
The NSW Refugee Health Service provides a range of services and programs to support refugees and community-based asylum seekers.
This includes conducting health assessments, community education and health promotion activities, training, research and advocacy. Refugee health programs in rural and regional NSW, managed by Local Health Districts, are based in Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Wollongong and Wagga Wagga. For more information on services, including dedicated paediatric refugee clinics and multicultural health services please contact NSW Refugee Health Services.
Northern Territory
The Health Support Services program at Melaleuca Australia is a holistic program that enables people from refugee, humanitarian, and migrant backgrounds to access primary and specialised healthcare and healthcare-related services.
The program is embedded with settlement services and works closely with general practice clinics, hospitals, and Northern Territory Health to build stakeholder capacity and ensure increased access to services for our clients.
Queensland
The Refugee Health Network Queensland builds capacity, partnerships, and facilitate coordination of care across health, settlement agencies, communities, government and non-government sectors.
The Network also provides information referral and linkage to Refugee health specific service providers in Queensland.
South Australia
The Refugee Health Service (RHS) is a specialist state wide health service for newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers in South Australia.
The primary health care services include: comprehensive health assessments, multidisciplinary coordination of care and management for clients with multiple health issues, health literacy and education and helping clients navigate the health system.
Tasmania
Refugee Health Network Tasmania
The Refugee Health Social Worker (RHSW) provides ongoing support to our refugee arrived community, temporary visa holders, seasonal workers and can offer support to the migrant community.
The RHSW will help you to access hospital and interpreter services as well as other health services in the community.
Victoria
The Victorian Refugee Health Network is an initiative committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds in Victoria.
The Network provides a platform for collaboration, service coordination and referral, training and resources, and advocacy to address the health needs and challenges experienced by people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. Our membership includes representatives from health and community services, settlement services, government, and non-government sectors.
Western Australia
The Humanitarian Entrant Health Service (HEHS) is for refugees and migrants on humanitarian visas who have recently arrived in Western Australia. Asylum seekers who are granted a humanitarian visa on shore in Australia are also eligible to attend.
The service provides a holistic health assessment service for all newly arrived refugees and humanitarian entrants refugees and identifies and treats health issues which may affect their wellbeing.
The Refugee Health Service, based in the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) at Perth Children’s Hospital provides statewide paediatric and young people refugee health care, supporting the needs of children and young people and their families who come from refugee-like backgrounds. Please see here for Child and Adolescent Health (CAHS) Refugee Health Service.
Submissions
Submission to create a National Refugee Health and Wellbeing Framework – RHeaNA recommendations for consideration.
Submission to the Select Committee into the Provision of and Access to Dental Services in Australia on behalf of the Refugee Health Network of Australia (RHeaNA).
Submission to the Australian Government Coordinator General for Migrant Services
Next Steps to improve Australia’s settlement and integration of refugees’ discussion paper.
Submission to Australian government into the Role and Functions of an Australian Centre for Disease Control
Australia’s Humanitarian Program 2021-2022
Submission on the management and composition of the Humanitarian Settlement Program prepared by the Refugee Health Network of Australia (RHeaNA) and Refugee Nurses of Australia (RNA)
RHeaNA feedback to the Joint Standing Committee on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS): Independent Assessments
Resources
- The Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide – Primary care for people with refugee backgrounds
- Immigrant Health Service, Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne
- Refugee health research clearinghouse
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners – Position Statement – healthcare-for-refugees-and-asylum-seekers
- World Health Organisation – World report on the health of refugees and migrants(20 July 2022)
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) – Chronic health conditions among culturally and linguistically diverse Australians, 2021