Mater Specialist Quick Find

Mater Refugee Complex Care Clinic (MRCCC)

Established in 2002, the Mater Refugee Complex Care Clinic (MRCCC) is a Mater mission driven initiative that has made a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of asylum seekers and people from refugee backgrounds in Brisbane. People from refugee backgrounds with complex health needs, may have difficulty accessing and navigating health services within general practice.  In addition, asylum seekers without Medicare will face financial barriers to accessing health care. 

The MRCCC offers specialised primary health care including complex case management, treatment and specialist referral when appropriate. The service does not provide ongoing primary health care and will liaise with community GPs to ensure ongoing primary care needs are met.  Asylum seekers without Medicare who are not able to access a community general practice are offered ongoing care.

The clinic offers long appointments, using accredited interpreting services with all patients and liaises with settlement agencies, community organisations and relevant services provided by Mater Health Services. GPs working at the clinic have specialist skills and interest in refugee health.  The clinic also offers a fortnightly paediatric clinic and other specialist clinics are sometimes offered, on a needs basis. 

Refer to Mater Refugee Complex Care Clinic brochure for further information.

**Are you a GP with an interest in Refugee Health? MRCCC is seeking altruistic GPs to join the team and help make a difference. Find out more.

Please note GPs at MRCCC are unable to expedite referrals more quickly than any other referring GP. They can provide case coordination and additional nursing support to provide health literacy and medication and health promotion education.

Patient eligibility

The clinic provides specialised primary health care to any person with a refugee experience with complex health needs, including permanent visa holders, asylum seekers and those without access to Medicare.

Referral

Patients may be referred to the MRCCC by General Practitioners, other health care providers, community organisations or patients themselves.

GPs - download the Outpatient Clinical Referral Form and select 'Mater Refugee Care Clinic' under 'Other'.

NOTE:  This form can be used to refer adults and children under 16 years for GP complex case management at MRCCC.

Community Providers -  download the Referral Form and post to: MRCCC, Mater Health Services, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Qld or Fax to 07 3163 8548 or email mrccc@mater.org.au

For further information contact the MRCCC on 07 3163 2880.

MRCCC Clinics

Paediatric Clinic

A refugee paediatric clinic is offered on a sessional basis (fortnightly) at MRCCC.  Referrals can be made to Dr David Levitt at MRCCC by referral letter from a General Practitioner.  Please fax referrals to 07 3163 8455.

Refugee and Asylum Seeker Psychiatric Assessment Service at Mater Refugee Complex Care Clinic

A service for people from refugee background requiring psychiatric assessment in a culturally safe environment in partnership with their family, GPs, counsellors, and community support services.” With the referral criteria to follow. 

Referral Criteria:

Please note: Patients from a refugee background with no Medicare and no GP should initially be referred to Mater Refugee Complex Care Clinic GP service. 

1. Age over 16
2. Unable to access other mental health services eg No Medicare OR
Have found other mental health services not suitable due to cultural/linguistic barriers
3. Does not require acute care eg can wait >6 weeks before initial appointment and >4 weeks between follow-up appointments
4. Requires the specific service of a psychiatrist (not only social support and counselling services)

Main reasons for psychiatric appointment:

1. Diagnostic assessment
2. Medication advice
3. Treatment planning
4. Linkage to other clinical services
5. Other

Other referral options if not fitting above criteria:


Refugee and Asylum Seeker Cardiovascular Clinic (RASCC)

The RASCC service provides culturally sensitive care with dedicated interpreter services and specialist refugee health nurses for each patient.

For more information, click here.
 

MRCCC is located:

Level 4, Salmon Building
Raymond Terrace
South Brisbane 4101

 

Sessional work for General Practitioners 

MRCCC offers opportunities for General Practitioners to join a supportive group of health professionals on a sessional basis at our not-for-profit clinic based at Mater South Brisbane. The position ideally suits GPs who would be happy to do pro-bono / voluntary work. There is a small opportunity to generate some income from Medicare. Most MRCCC GPs volunteer for one session a week.

MRCCC doctors are supported by a GP clinical lead, a wider team of refugee health specialist doctors and a clinical nursing team specialising in refugee health. This is a unique opportunity to join a supportive group of health professionals who share a passion for human rights are are committed to making a difference.

If you are interested in working with refugees and asylum seekers please phone 07 3163 2880 or email mrccc@mater.org.au, or download this flyer for more information.

 

  • Primary Focus

    Register to receive your local Primary Focus—Mater's newsletter for GPs, with a focus on primary care

    Read more

  • Professional Development

    GP Education, Maternity Shared Care Alignment Program and Events.

    Read more

  • Featured Event

    Join us at Brookwater for a GP education evening focused on breast cancer

    Read more