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Refugee Health Queensland (RHQ) is a statewide network of refugee health services, with a central office based at the Mater Health Service and clinics in Brisbane (Mater Health Service), Cairns (Queensland Health/QH), Logan (QH), Toowoomba (QH), Townsville (James Cook University) and Zillmere (QH). The structure and management of each clinic varies depending existing local resources and need. At a minimum, each clinic provides an initial nursing assessment, an immunisation catch-up schedule and referral for ongoing health care, including discharge to the care of a community based GP. Services are provided in collaboration with local settlement agencies and interpreters are used at all clinics when necessary.
The RHQ central office is staffed by a Senior Medical Officer (SMO) and a Statewide coordinator (SC) who are responsible for supporting the delivery of refugee health services in Queensland.
The SMO and SC, supported by a Statewide Advisory Committee, provide clinical support, planning and service coordination for the network of refugee health care services across Queensland. The central office also provides education, supervision and mentorship to general practice, hospital staff and relevant community organisations to build expertise in refugee health.
The central office is at 616 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba, telephone 07 3163 2880 or email refugeehealthqld@mater.org.au.
The Brisbane Clinic is a Mater Health Service and is based at 616 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba. The clinic has a Health Assessment Service for newly arrived refugees and an Extended Care service for refugees with complex health issues as well as free health care for eligible asylum seekers.
The Health Assessment Service provides a voluntary comprehensive nursing and medical health assessment, including pathology testing and specialist referrals. Clients are discharged to the care of a community general practitioner.
All newly-arrived refugees settling via the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Scheme (IHSS) in Brisbane within the first 6 months of arrival into Queensland.
As newly arrived refugees are eligible for Medicare, Centrelink payments and have a Health Care Card, the medical services which are conducted by sessional general practitioners are bulk billed.
Referrals are received directly from the local refugee settlement agency, Multicultural Development Association. If you have a client who presents to within six months of their arrival to Queensland and has not been linked to the Brisbane clinic, please contact the clinic on 07 3163 2880 or email refugeehealthqld@mater.org.au.
Following the completion of the comprehensive assessment, a discharge summary is provided to the patient and arrangements are made for their ongoing care with a Community GP in their local area, who also receives a copy of the discharge summary (with the patients consent).
The Extended Care Service provides an integrated, coordinated and culturally sensitive service to people of a refugee background with complex health issues. General practitioners provide a bulk billing service and interpreter services are available.
Services are provided to:
Refugees and complex primary health care needs. The complexity of a patient’s health care needs often stem from experiences of war-related trauma and/or torture and long term settlement in refugee camps with a lack of health care, which impact on a refugees physical and mental health. For example, clients may present with pain that cannot be explained viamedical testing or health conditions which are not common in Australia. The complexity of health care provision also relates to access issues, which can result from a lack of familiarity with the Australian health system, large family size and health care not being a priority when a refugee is trying to settle into a new life of school and work in Australia. The Extended Care clinic books long appointments and works closely with interpreters and settlement agencies to improve access to health care.
We accept referrals from:
Please provide detailed background when referring an individual outlining the potential patient’s complex health care needs. It is important that a parent or guardian consents when a child is being referred. Referrals are assessed once a week and you will be contacted shortly after to be advised if your referral has been accepted.
View a copy of the extended care referral form [link]
The Cairns Refugee Health Assessment Service is part of the Community and Primary Prevention Services, Queensland Health. The service operates by appointments only. A number of Nurses are being trained to work with refugee clients, to conduct nursing assessments and to commence catch-up immunisations. After the nursing assessment, a referral will be made to a community GP for a medical assessment and ongoing health care. There will be complex case coordination to assist community GPs.
All newly arrived refugees settling via the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Scheme (IHSS) in Cairns are eligible to access the Cairns clinic within the first 6 months of arrival.
Referrals are received directly from the local refugee settlement agency, Centacare. If you have a client who presents to within six months of their arrival to Queensland and has not been linked to the Cairns clinic, please contact the clinic on 07 4052 9333.
The Logan clinic is located at the Logan Central Community Health Centre, Queensland Health.
The clinic provides an initial nursing health assessment for refugees and commences the refugee immunisation catch up schedule on each individual. After the nursing assessment refugees are referred to their local GPs for continuing immunisations, further investigations and ongoing health care. The nursing assessment management plan and immunisation catch up schedule are sent to their local GP. All refugees are referred to the TB clinic for screening
All newly arrived refugees settled through the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Scheme (IHSS) in partnership with ACCES Inc and local GPs, within the first six months of arrival.
Referrals are received directly from the local refugee settlement agency, (ACCESS Inc - link). If you have a client who presents to within six months of their arrival to Queensland and has not been linked to the Logan clinic, please contact the Refugee Health nursing staff on 07 3290 8900.
The Toowoomba clinic is based at Kobi House, Toowoomba Health Services, Queensland Health. The clinic provides an initial nursing health assessment for refugees and commences the refugee immunisation catch up schedule, where possible. A Medical Officer undertakes some targetted routine screening, followed by treatment in some cases.
After the nursing assessment clients are referred to their local GPs for a medical assessment and ongoing health care. Complex case coordination is available to assist community GPs.
All newly arrived refugees settled through the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Scheme (IHSS) in partnership with Centacare Toowoomba and local GPs, within the first six months of arrival.
Referrals are received directly from the local refugee settlement agency, (Centacare Toowoomba). If you have a client who presents to within six months of their arrival to Queensland and has not been linked to the Toowoomba clinic, please contact the clinic on 07 4616 6446.
The Townsville Clinic is operated by School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine & Rehabiliation Sciences, James Cook University. Nursing assessments are completed and catch up immunisations schedules are worked out. After the nursing assessment, a referral will be made to a community GP for a medical assessment and ongoing health care. There will be complex case coordination to assist community GPs.
All newly arrived refugees settled through the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Scheme (IHSS) in partnership with Townsville Multicultural Support Group, Inc (TMSG) and local GPs, within the first six months of arrival.
Referrals are received directly from the local refugee settlement agency, TMSG. If you have a client who presents to within six months of their arrival to Queensland and has not been linked to the Townsville clinic, please contact TMSG on 07 4775 1588.
The Zillmere clinic provides health assessment by a Medical Officer and Nurse for newly arrived refugee families and commencement of vaccinations.
Families are then linked with a General Practitioner for ongoing care. Referrals to other services are also provided as required. The service is for infants, children, young people and adults. The centre is located at the Zillmere Community Centre - 54 Handford Road, Zillmere.
All newly arrived refugees settled through the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Scheme (IHSS) in partnership with MDA and local GPs, within the first six months of arrival.
Referrals are received directly from the local refugee settlement agency. If you have a client who presents within six months of their arrival to Queensland and has not been linked to the Zillmere clinic please contact Community Child Health Service, Primary Care Program 1300 366 039.
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