Supporting refugee health in North Brisbane and Moreton Bay this Refugee Week and beyond

Brisbane North PHN supports Refugee Week (16-22 June), recognised annually in Australia to promote greater awareness of refugees, the issues they face, and their contributions to our community.

The year’s theme Finding Freedom - with a focus on family, encapsulates the profound journey of resilience, strength and unity that defines the refugee experience.

How Brisbane North PHN is supporting refugees in our community

The PHN is a member of local partnership Refugee Health Connect (RHC) that provides a point of contact for primary healthcare providers to access information and support for refugee health. Partnership members include Brisbane South PHN, Mater Health and Metro South Health.

RHC works to:

• assist primary healthcare providers in navigating the refugee health system
• build the skills and capabilities of primary health professionals to manage the care of refugee families in a culturally and clinically appropriate manner through:
  • peer-to-peer education
  • practice support and guidance
  • cultural awareness training
  • clinical education events
  • resources for clinical and administrative staff.

Clinical support by a local general practitioner with extensive experience in this field is funded by Brisbane North PHN to work with GPs and clinicians to promote refugee health care and support in primary care in the Brisbane and Moreton Bay region.

Interpreter services are funded for allied health professionals in the Moreton Bay region to cover the cost of this service.

Read more information and check eligibility criteria

In partnership with Mater Integrated Refugee Health Service (MIRHS), nurses work in general practices and close with GPs and other primary care health professionals to provide refugee health focused nursing assessments and comprehensive medical assessments to people from refugee backgrounds who have recently arrived in Australia (within 12 months).

Read more information about Mater Refugee Health

As a current member organisation of the Refugee Health Partnership Advisory Group Queensland, Brisbane North PHN and other key stakeholders come together to identify needs and to develop a strategic response that meets the health needs of refugees and asylum seekers settling in Queensland and progress the actions in the Refugee Health and Wellbeing Policy and Action Plan (2022-2027).

The Refugee Health Network Queensland website provides a comprehensive range of clinical and administrative information and resources, including a variety of translated resources.

Further clinical information can be found at Brisbane North PHN HealthPathways - Refugee Health.

Visit the official Refugee Week website and learn more.