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General Practice Network NT (GPNNT) leads and coordinates a Territory-wide Primary Health Care network with the objective of improving health service delivery and health outcomes in the Northern Territory, Australia

Refugee Health Program

The Refugee Health Service began in May 2009 and enables newly arrived refugees to access comprehensive primary health care from the time of their arrival in Darwin. 

  • Newly arrived refugees in Darwin can now access primary health care services at Northlakes Medical Centre and Vanderlin Drive Surgery through the Refugee Health Program.

  • The service starts for each patient with a Refugee Health Assessment which is a thorough assessment of all areas of the new arrival’s health.
     

  • Health care for these arrivals continues through the service for the first 12 months after a refugees arrival in Australia.
     

Approximately 160 refugees were settled in Darwin in 2008-09 by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, with a wide range of nationalities represented, including recent arrivals from Bhutan, Burma, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Sudan.

Many refugees will have been living in refugee camps for years, many over a decade before arriving in Australia. Before arriving in camps, all will have experienced trauma, which can include experiences such as civil war, torture and the loss of family members to violence.

Resources 
Caring for Refugee Patients in General Practice Desktop Guide (3rd edition). Summary information for GPs working with refugee patients [Foundation House - The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture]

Promoting Refugee Health: A guide for doctors and other health care providers caring for people from refugee backgrounds (2nd ed). Comprehensive guide to working with refugee patients (Foundation House - The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture)

Multilingual Appointment Card. Translating tool for patient appointment cards.

Interpreting Services (including Doctors Priority Line). Information about free interpreting services (Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Australian Government)

Melaleuca Refugee Centre

South Australia Refugee Health Network

Foundation House: The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture

ASID Guidelines: Diagnosis, management and prevention of infections in recently arrived refugees

Contact

For further information about this program and a more comprehensive list of resources please contact Le Smith, Project Officer on (08) 8982 1035 or le.smith@gpnnt.org.au

GPNNT acknowledges the financial support of the NT Government Department of Health and Families for this program.