SEA-GP (Brisbane) has been involved in refugee health since 1997. With a high proportion of refugees living within the SEA-GP (Brisbane) catchment area, the Alliance is committed to supporting refugee health and GPs working in this area. A useful service, within the Alliance borders, that helps support practices in caring for refugee patients is Refugee Health Qld (see information below for more information). The Alliance is also part of the Refugees and Primary Health (RaPH) Project conducted through the Mater UQ Centre for Primary Health Care Innovation.

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Funded Medications for Newly Arrived Refugees

Refugee Health Queensland (RHQ) has some funding for a number of commonly prescribed medications for newly arrived refugees settling in Queensland. This includes Ergocalciferol, Cholecalciferol, Artemisin plus Lumafantrine, Mebendazole, Albendazole, Ferrous Sulphate and Terbinafine.   These medications are funded for the first 6 months after arrival in Australia only, and can be accessed at any local pharmacy. RHQ have developed a letter to give to suitable patients so the pharmacist can invoice RHQ, Mater Health Services directly. Please contact Dr Megan Evans, Clinical Director, Refugee Health Queensland if you have any questions on phone 3163 2880 or email: megan.evans@mater.org.au.

 

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Refugee Health Qld: Helping your practice care for refugee patients

Refugee Health Qld is a state-wide network of refugee health services with a central office and Brisbane Clinic based at Mater Health Service Woolloongabba. This service provides support to general practice in a number of ways:

• The Health Assessment Service provides a voluntary comprehensive health assessment, including pathology testing and specialist referrals to all newly arrived refugees. Patients are discharged to the care of a community GP with a full summary of their assessment, treatment and immunisations to date.

• Complex Case Management is provided for refugees with complex health issues. Community GPs may refer their existing refugee patients to the Extended Care Service (previously QIRCH clinic) for an intensive clinical assessment and short term management.

• Health Care for Asylum Seekers is provided on an ongoing basis by GPs who donate their time for Medicare ineligible patients.

• Practice Support Visits are available on request. Dr Megan Evans is the Senior Medical Officer for RHQ and a practicing GP. Megan’s role includes supporting General Practices to be able to provide optimum health care to their refugee patients. Megan can visit your Practice to provide advice on caring for refugees in General Practice. This is tailored to your individual Practice needs and may include topics such as immunisation catch-ups, appointment scheduling, booking and using interpreters, managing common physical and mental health conditions in refugee patients, cultural awareness, managing victims of torture and trauma, access to resources for refugee health, etc. Megan works Tue/Wed/Thu. Contact details- Ph: 07 3163 2880. Email: megan.evans@mater.org.au.

• Telephone Support for refugee health issues is available Mon-Fri from RHQ.

Contact RHQ on 07 3163 2880 for further information, or visit Mater’s GP support site
www.materonline.org.au/Home/Services/Refugee-health/Refugee-Health-Queensland.aspx

For other Mater Refugee Health Services including the Refugee Maternity Service and Refugees and Primary Health Project please click here

Refugee Immunisation Data Capture

Caring for Refugee Patients in General Practice Desktop Guide (3rd edition)- Queensland
Summary information for GPs working with refugee patients [Foundation House- The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture]
For a hard copy of this resource please contact SEA-GP (Brisbane)

Promoting Refugee Health: A guide for doctors and other health care providers caring for people from refugee backgrounds (2nd edition)
Comprehensive guide to working with refugee patients [Foundation House- The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture]

Medicare Health Assessment resource kit (MBS items 701, 703, 705, 707)
Includes a fact sheet and proformas for the Health Assessment for Refugees and Other Humanitarian Entrants [Department of Health and Ageing]

Refugee health assessment resources [General Practice Victoria]

Qld Health Catch-up schedule for Refugees

Qld Multicultural Resource Directory
Comprehensive listing of key organisations in Qld with an ethnic community focus [Multicultural Affairs Qld- Qld Government]

Health Translations Directory
Reliable translated health information [Department of Human Services, Victoria]

Multilingual Appointment Card
Translating tool for patient appointment cards [COMMUNICATe- UK]

Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of Infections in Recently Arrived Refugees
Guideline from Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases

 

Transcultural Mental Health Services - Princess Alexandra Mental Health Service District
The Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre (QTMHC) is a statewide service which provides an information, referral, resource and clinical consultation service, funded by the Queensland Government.

QPASTT
QPASTT aims to provide assistance to people who have undergone, witnessed, or experienced torture or trauma, in or during flight from their homes and countries, or have experienced political, ethnic or religious victimisation or war.

Interpreting Services (including Doctors Priority Line)
Information about free interpreting services [Department of Immigration and Citizenship- Australian Government]