Rockhampton Refugee

Purpose

The purpose of the Rockhampton Refugee & Newly Arrived Migrants Health Reference Group is to support and facilitate refugees, temporary working visa holders and newly arrived migrants, and local health care providers with access to and provision of appropriate mental and physical health services in Rockhampton with the long term aim of health improvement.

Objectives

• Identify physical and mental health needs of refugees and newly arrived migrants. 
• Describe the capacity of mental and physical health service providers to address the needs of refugees and newly arrived migrants and identify opportunities to address unmet need
• Formulate a strategic plan to address identified needs and map processes necessary to achieve the aims and objectives of this plan
• Advocate for other identified needs outside the scope of this group through the appropriate channels

Key Milestones

• Health Issues Statement formulated - May 2011
• Strategic Plan developed and endorsed - July 2011
• Strategic Plan implementation commenced - September 2011

Geographical Boundaries

This group will focus on Rockhampton.

Members

• ACCES Services Inc
• AWX
• Capricornia Division of General Practice
• Centacare Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton
• Central Queensland Health Service District – Mental Health Services, Chest Clinic, Community Health, Oral Health
• Central Queensland Primary Health Care Partnership
• Central Queensland Public Health Unit
• CQUniversity Australia
• Multicultural Development Association (MDA)
• Ozcare
• Qld Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture & Trauma (QPASTT)
• Qld Transcultural Mental Health Centre
• Refugee Health Queensland
• Rockhampton Regional Council

Members are responsible for:-

• Actively participate in the Health Reference Group via presence at meetings or the nomination and attendance of a delegate or via teleconference
• Provide a professional and representative viewpoint, disregarding personal opinion or individual agendas
• Regularly inform their respective organisations of project initiatives and outcomes
• Adequately prepare for meetings through reading all relevant documentation prior to meetings

Meetings are held monthly on the 1st Tuesday of the Month at various locations for 1.5 hours (9am – 10.30am).   The current Chair is Dr James Smith, Public Health Physician, Central Queensland Public Health Unit, Contact:  james_smith1@health.qld.gov.au.

To further discuss the activities of the Rockhampton Refugee & Newly Migrants Health Reference Group please contact Secretariat Support (Sasha Jahnke).