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What is a refugee?
How many refugees are there worldwide?
What are the settlement patterns of refugees in Australia?
Health issues of refugees
Services for
refugees in Australia
Further information
What is a refugee?
A refugee is an individual who has fled his or her home country due to a genuine fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social groups or political opinion. An asylum seeker is someone who’s claim to refugee status has yet to be formally recognised. Refugees and asylum seekers are not illegal migrants. The 1951 United Nations Convention and the 1967Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees lay down the basic standards for the treatment of refugees and constitute the primary international legal framework for the rights of refugees. Further information about these documents are available in the full UNHCR Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.
How many refugees are there worldwide?
According to the UNHCR at the beginning of 2006 there were 8.4 million refugees and 773, 500 asylum seekers globally. In 2005 the largest number of asylum seekers worldwide were from Myanmar, Somalia and Serbia and Montenegro.
In the 2005-2006 period Australia accepted 14 144 people under its humanitarian entry program and 12 758 under its off shore resettlement program. The main countries of birth for people granted off shore visas in this period were Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Burma/Myanmar, Liberia, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Congo (DRC), Eritrea and Iran. (Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship Fact Sheet 60: Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Programme)
What are the settlement patterns of refugees in Australia?
Australia's humanitarian settlement programme over the last decade has seen refugees settle in many different areas of Australia. Further information about the settlement patterns of refugees at a state and local government level are available on the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.
Health issues of refugees
The experiences of refugees before arrival in Australia can have major implications for their long term physical and psychological health. Many refugees have fled persecution or torture and may suffer trauma as a result of experiences of war and conflict. Disrupted access to health care and appropriate nutrition may also impact on the health of refugees.
The stress of migration and adapting to a new lifestyle, lack of familiarity with the Australian health care system as well cultural and language barriers may also affect refugee health.
Although the Australian government facilitates pre-departure health screening, refugees may suffer from serious infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and gastro-intestinal infections.
For more information:
Caring for Older Refugees in NSW: A Discussion Paper - NSW Refugee Health Service; 2007
NSW Refugee Health Service
Fact Sheets - The NSW Refugee Health Service provide a comprehensive collection of Fact Sheets about refugee health.
To access these fact sheets go to the Resources page on the NSW Refugee Health Service website.
Medical Journal of Australia - special issue on refugee health - December 2006
Caring for refugee patients in General Practice: A Desktop Guide - Foundation House, Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture and Trauma Inc.; 3rd edition 2007
Promoting refugee health: A guide for doctors and other health care providers caring for people of a refugee background - Foundation House, Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture and Trauma Inc.; 2nd edition 2007
Services for refugees in Australia
Key services for refugees in Australia include:
NSW
NSW Refugee Health Service
STARTTS - The NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors
NSW Education Progam on Female Genital Mutilation
Health Care Interpreter Service
QLD
Brisbane Actionweb for refugee collaboration
Brisbane Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Network
QPASTT - The Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma
SA
STTARS - Supporting survivors of torture and trauma
TAS
Phoenix Centre - Support Service for Survivors of Torture and Trauma
VIC
Foundation House - Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (VFST)
Refugee Health Research Centre - La Trobe University
WA
Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors
Further information
For further resources of relevance to refugee health click here
Non health-related refugee information
Anglicare Australia Refugee and Migration Services
Immigration Advice and Rights Centre
Refugee Review Tribunal
Refugee Council of Australia
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