Health Plan Puts Refugees At The Centre Of Their Own Health

The NSW Refugee Health Plan 2022-2027 will ensure that people from refugee backgrounds have better access to healthcare communicated in their preferred language to improve their health and well-being.

The NSW Government’s investment of $15 million into the NSW Refugee Health Plan is on top of the $20 million already provided annually to support refugee health.

This plan recognises that refugees have unique healthcare needs and has priority issues such as communication in their preferred language, cultural responsiveness of care and targeted promotion and education at its heart.

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that refugees who live or arrive in the area have the best access to appropriate healthcare services.

Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard said the plan was developed in collaboration with people from refugee backgrounds to improve access to culturally responsive healthcare and takes into account the impact of traumatic life experiences.

“People from refugee backgrounds, including those seeking asylum, make an incredible contribution to Australia’s social, cultural and economic life, and it’s vital that they have equitable access to healthcare to give themselves and their families a bright future,” Mr Hazzard said.

“Seeking healthcare can be a challenge for people from refugee backgrounds, and this plan will help them access and navigate ther ight health services when needed while overcoming any communication hurdles, in both country and city areas.”

Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure said ensuring refugees can access proper healthcare for themselves and their families was fundamental to their settlement journey in NSW.

“As humanitarian crises continue to grip the world, we are seeing more people asking to come to NSW to find safe haven,” Mr Coure said. “Their settlement journey, however, doesn’t end once they arrive - it also includes ensuring they can have ongoing access to relevant services, like healthcare.

“This plan sets out a pathway for people of refugee backgrounds to access specialised, culturally responsive healthcare in NSW.”

Visit https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/multicultural/’Pages/refugee-health-policy.aspx for further information.

Heath to https://www.mlhd.heatlh.nsw.gov.au/our-services/refugee-and-multicultural-services and https://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Multicultural-Health for more information about NSW Health’s specialised refugee health services across the electorate.

• Topics:

• Health & Wellbeing
• People