Engaging with refugee communities on strategic, national and local settlement

issues  10th July 2014

National Refugee Resettlement Forum

Annette MortensenNorthern Regional Alliance

Jennifer LammMinistry of Health

How we engage with refugee communities on

strategic, national & local settlement issues  

• Conduct HNA, research and evaluation• Community-led partnerships (RASNZ;

NZAF African; ARPHS, RHSS etc) • Tailored and targeted models of service

delivery• Refugee consumer voice in health

planning and service development • Community empowerment models

Study conducted by Dr Lavinia Perumal (2010) for the Auckland District Health Board

www.refugeehealth.govt.nz/resources/articles/MELAA%20Health%20Needs%20Assessment%202010.pdf

Auckland Regional Public Health Service- Refugee Health Screening Service

• The ARPHS- RHSS is the national screening service for quota refugees to NZ.

• The service covers the greater Auckland region.

• Public health plays a major role in supporting and strengthening healthy communities including refugees and new migrants.

• The Refugee Health and Screening Service provides information, education, communicable diseases control, health protection and health promotion.

• The Refugee Health and Screening Service works in partnership with many health providers and communities to provide culturally appropriate and acceptable care.

Refugees as Survivors New Zealand (RASNZ)

Christchurch Resettlement Services

New Zealand Aids Foundation African Communities Team

Evaluation of the Waitemata DHB Child Disability Service for Refugee and Migrant

Families: Feedback from Families

Families often confused and overwhelmed

– lack of knowledge about what was available,

– lack of understanding of how to access services,

– health services being provided in an ad hoc fashion

– poor communication with families.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Cultural caseworkers model in DHB Child

Development Service Services to CALD clients and

their families:– Navigation and advocacy of

health and disability services – Cultural mediation between

family and service– Coordinating aspects of care– Health and disability education

and information for parents – CALD consumer feedback to

services

Refugee Community engagement in the

Disability Support and Services Sector