Many refugees and asylum seekers will have complex health issues and have had restricted access to health care when they settle in western Victoria. Western Victoria PHN (WVPHN) is here to support primary health carers access up-to-date and culturally-sensitive information to improve refugee and asylum seeker health.
Definitions
Who is a refugee?
A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. (UNHCR)
Who is an asylum seeker?
An asylum-seeker is someone whose request for sanctuary has yet to be processed. (UNHCR)
Access to health care
Australia has a complex system for refugee and asylum seeker access to health care.
Refugees have work rights. Therefore, they have access to Medicare and can be seen by any general practice. Like other patients, their health care can be billed under Medicare.
Health service eligibility for asylum seekers can vary depending on individual circumstances. For more details, refer to the Victorian Refugee Health Network’s Asylum Seeker Health Information Sheet
Other resources
General resources
- HealthPathways
- Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide
- Medicare Benefits Schedule Health assessment for refugees and other humanitarian entrants
- CareSearch – finding culturally appropriate resources in palliative care
Vaccination resources
- Patient resource – Catch up vaccinations for refugees and asylum seekers in Victoria
- Immunisation providers resource – Catch-up immunisation for refugees and asylum seekers
Translation and interpreting tools and services
- National Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) including fee paying and free services
- TIS promotional materials catalogue
- Victorian Interpreters and translation guides
Refugee and asylum seeker support services
- Victorian Refugee Health Network
- Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
- Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health
- Mental Health in Multicultural Australia
- Refugee Advice and Casework Service
- Refugee Legal
- The Royal Children’s Hospital Immigrant Health Service
- Foundation House (The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture)
- Victorian Transcultural Mental Health
More information
Contact our Senior Regional Management team:
- Phone: 03 5222 0800