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Asylum Seeker health services — regional expansion
Cabrini Outreach Annual Report 2020-21 Asylum Seeker health services
Mental health support for Asylum Seekers in regional Victoria
This year we expanded our specialist mental health services to regional Victoria in response to increasing need during the COVID-19 pandemic. In partnership with local support agencies and GP clinics, Cabrini Outreach expanded its services to people seeking asylum and temporary visa holders in Mildura and Shepparton. Funding received as part of the Victorian Government’s Keeping Victorians Connected and Supported — Mental Health and Wellbeing Coronavirus Response Package now allows referrals for psycho-social support, psychiatric care and consultation.
Medical Director of Mental Health at Cabrini Outreach, Dr Tram Nguyen, said the introduction of Stage 3 restrictions in regional Victoria, in addition to the growing number of positive COVID-19 cases, had added new layers of fear and uncertainty among the community. She said this had resulted in an increased risk of destitution for people seeking asylum and people on temporary visas.
“COVID-19, the pandemic and the measures to control it, have come at a cost to everyone, especially in terms of their mental health,” Dr Nguyen said. “Access to mental health care should be universal. It shouldn’t depend on your visa status or your postcode. That’s why we applaud this initiative from the Victorian Government.” Cabrini Outreach has been acutely aware of the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people seeking asylum. Without access to a financial support safety net, job losses and increasing restrictions have had serious impacts on the people we work with. “After many years of uncertainty, separation from family members and restrictive visa conditions, this pandemic is adding to the devastation experienced by people seeking asylum,” Dr Nguyen said. “Communities in regional Victoria are no exception.”
Primary care clinic opened in Shepparton by Cabrini Outreach and Primary Care Connect
In June 2021, Cabrini Outreach expanded its specialist primary health service to Shepparton, to address the needs
The Cabrini Outreach, Uniting VicTas and Primary Care Connect team at the opening of Clinic Sihat, Shepparton.
of vulnerable refugees, undocumented migrants and people seeking asylum. Priority is given to people who don’t have Medicare and all healthcare provided at the clinic is free.
The clinic is supported by the Victorian Government through the Priority Response to Multicultural Communities (PRMC) program.
In 2016, at the most recent census data, there were more than 2000 people residing in Shepparton who were born in a refugee-producing country. Estimates place the population of temporary migrants from Malaysia between 800–1000, and community leaders estimate that there are around 250 people seeking asylum from the Hazara, Iraqi and Iranian communities in the region. A large proportion of this population will not be eligible for Medicare, and therefore are unable to access healthcare unless they are in a financial position to pay, or they choose to attend the local hospital. Unfortunately, there are no general practitioners (GPs) in Shepparton willing to see people seeking asylum and migrants without Medicare free of charge.
As part of the expansion of our specialist mental health service to the region, we consulted extensively with local community leaders and services. It became acutely apparent there was a serious need for primary care.
Natasha Blucher Regional Response
Coordinator, Cabrini Outreach Asylum Seeker Health Services
Cabrini Outreach Annual Report 2020-21 Asylum Seeker health services
Through a partnership with Primary Care Connect, a community health service that engages with vulnerable and hard to reach community groups, we have expanded our health service to Shepparton, to address this need.
The new clinic was named Clinic Sihat; ‘Sihat’ meaning ‘health and wellbeing’ in Malay, Arabic, Hazaragi and Urdu. It now offers on ground presence of an experienced pro bono GP and practise nurse, as well as a specialist mental health clinician who works with clients via telehealth. We offer the provision of immunisations, pathology tests, clinical referrals and a pharmacy waiver service — all provided free of charge to the clients.
As a pilot program, we hope that this will build capacity for local GPs to accept referrals and provide appropriate clinical care to refugees.
“It is vital that all people in our community have access to good quality primary care where they live. It is a demonstration of our commitment to improving the health of our often vulnerable and marginalised community members through the lens of the social model of health. Our partnership will assist in creating inclusive community health care opportunities through collaboration.” Primary Care Connect’s CEO Rebecca Lorains
“Primary care is too important to just let a whole segment of the community go without. I hope other local General Practitioners will be willing to help us provide this critical care.” Cabrini Outreach Pro Bono General Practitioner, Dr Malcolm Altson
“People seeking asylum have specific needs in primary care, requiring the use of interpreting services, refugee health screening, and understanding of the psychosocial impacts of their protection application process.” Practice Implementation Nurse Hannah Juhrmann “Our people really need healthcare. If they cannot pay, many people are just sitting at home with serious health problems — asthma, heart conditions, and even pregnant women. They need somewhere to go for help.” Mr Faizal, President of the Goulburn Valley Malaysian Association
Project Sihat Psychosocial Support in the Shepparton and Mildura regions
In November 2020, Cabrini entered a partnership arrangement with Uniting Vic. Tas to provide culturally appropriate psychosocial support casework in Shepparton. The caseworker is employed to provide referrals, information, practical support and emotional support to people seeking asylum, undocumented migrants and temporary visa holders with particular vulnerabilities. At the same time as opening Clinic Sihat, we launched Project Sihat. As an initiative, it responds to the mental health needs of people seeking asylum and other temporary visa holders in regional areas.
Clients referred must be experiencing mental health concerns that impact on their day to day lives. The aim of the program is to support clients with the situational issues that are impacting on their mental health, and to refer to the Cabrini Outreach Specialist Mental Health Service when clinical mental health intervention is needed. Project Sihat caseworkers are employed from the communities they work in and are embedded in local organisations. They are supported by our specialist mental health clinical team to provide a holistic response to psychosocial issues for people seeking asylum, vulnerable temporary visa holders and undocumented migrants.
Now, in partnership with Catholic Care, we have commenced the same project in the Mildura region, where our newest psychosocial support caseworker has commenced work.
GP Dr Malcolm Altson (left) and practice nurse Hannah Juhrmann (right) at Clinic Sihat.
