About the Network
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Our vision is that all refugees settling in Queensland have access to the right care, at the right time and in the right place to ensure they have the best possible health and well being.
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 includes regional networks, topic specific working groups and key policy stakeholders including government and community. It provides a strategic platform to feed advice to government about key issues and advocate for and develop options for solutions for identified problems.
The Network is funded by Queensland Health and supported by Mater Refugee Health.
Contact – Refugee Health Network Queensland Coordinator
Gabby Weiss: Ph: (07) 3163 2958 E: Gabby.Weiss@mater.org.au
Activities
- Supports the delivery of key activities identified in the Qld Refugee Health and Well being Policy and Action Plan (2022-2027)
- A central point of reference for refugee health matters, facilitate information sharing and partnerships across Queensland
- Provides advice to State Government departments including the development of formal submissions to aid policy development to affect systemic change
- Support regional networks and working groups
- Facilitates the Refugee Health Primary Care Clinical Advisory Group (RH-CAG) which has a clinical, primary care focus and supports health care providers in delivering refugee health care across Queensland.
- Maintain communications, develop and disseminate resources to Network members
- Represent Queensland on Refugee Health Network of Australia (RHeaNA)
- Support and develop research relevant to refugee health across Queensland.
Projects
The Network has managed projects including:
- CALD COVID Health Engagement Project (CCHEP)
- Multicultural Health Engagement Project (MHEP) included development of a Multicultural Health Communications Guide; A Guide to Engaging and Communicating with Multicultural Queenslanders and co-designed health resources from the regions.
- Cairns – Video about the process of co-design with Centacare FNQ
- Townsville – Videos and fact sheet calling an ambulance with TMSG – available in English, French and Sango.
- Toowoomba – Yazidi Kurmanji videos about chronic pain with Multicultural Australia
- SE Qld – Vaping resources
- Overseas Trained Health Professionals Project
- International Medical Graduate Observership from refugee backgrounds (IMG-FRB)
- Overseas trained nurses and nurses from diverse backgrounds – Discussion paper coming soon.
Refugee Health Clinical Advisory Group (RH-CAG)
The Network also facilitates the Refugee Health Primary Care Clinical Advisory Group (RH-CAG) which has a clinical, primary care focus and supports health care providers in delivering refugee health care across Queensland. The Clinical Advisory Group facilitates discussion of emerging clinical and policy issues, development of clinical resources and education events and contributes to the Partnership Advisory Group. The RH-CAG has members from across the state who work within the primary care sector, Primary Health Networks (PHNs), settlement services and refugee health services and the Refugee Health Advisory Group (known as the ‘G11’).
Policies
Network GP Fellow
The Refugee Health Fellow (GP) has a state-wide role with a focus on building capacity, and facilitating partnerships in primary care to improve the health and wellbeing of people of refugee backgrounds throughout Queensland. This may involve direct engagement with GPs and primary care or through the activities of the Refugee Health Primary Care Clinical Advisory Group (RH-CAG). The clinical advisory group is Chaired by the GP Fellow and comprised of primary care clinicians and other allied health professionals who meet every 6-8 weeks to discuss and develop refugee health specific clinical protocols, resources , training and education events, and health system advocacy.
Dr Rachel Claydon is also working clinically in Mater Asylum Seeker GP Clinic (known as MRCCC) Contact: rachel.claydon@mater.org.au
Reports
- Refugee Health and Wellbeing: A Policy and Action Plan for Queensland (2017 – 2020) Full Report and Summary
- Refugee Health and Wellbeing: A policy and action plan for Queensland 2017-2018 – Progress Report