CURRENT ISSUES - NATIONAL SETTLEMENT POLICY NETWORK

INTRODUCTION

The National Settlement Policy Network is a joint initiative of the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) and the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) to enable our members (organisational and individual) to participate in planning joint advocacy on settlement issues.

RCOA and SCOA will be co-hosting a quarterly National Settlement Policy Network teleconference that will focus on specific themes. Teleconferences will provide an opportunity for members to hear from guest speakers with expertise in particular areas of settlement policy as well as raise issues of concern and ways forward.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Please note that the National Settlement Policy Teleconference is organised by the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) and the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) to enable our members (organisational and individual) to participate in planning joint advocacy on settlement issues.

Any non-member who wishes to participate should contact either the RCOA national office on (02) 9211 9333 or SCOA on (02) 8065 5225 prior to a teleconference to make arrangements to reimburse RCOA/SCOA for the cost of their participation in the teleconference.

To check if your organisation is a current member of RCOA, see the list of organisational members on the RCOA website: www.refugeecouncil.org.au/resources/links.html

To check if your organisation is a current member of SCOA, see the list of organisational members on the SCOA website: www.scoa.org.au/contacts.htm

TELECONFERENCE - 2 MARCH 2010

The first National Settlement Policy Network Teleconference for 2010 will focus on the topic of Refugee Health: Successes and challenges of refugee health network coordination.

The presentations will focus on what is happening at state and national levels, with regard to the co-ordination of refugee health services. Each presenter will review issues and related responses in refugee health and will highlight the achievements and challenges of refugee health services coordination. Presenters include:

• Dr Mitchell Smith, Director and Marisa Salem, Deputy Director of the NSW Refugee Health Service and representative of the Refugee Health Network of Australia (RHeaNA)
• Sue Casey, Manager, Health Sector Development, the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House)
• Donata Sackey, Co-Project Manager RaPH (Refugees and Primary Health) Project and Sarah Grealy, Statewide Coordinator, Refugee Health Queensland (click here to download a summary of this presentation).
  

The Teleconference will be held on Tuesday 2nd March at the following times:

3.30-4.45pm ACT, NSW, Tasmania , Victoria time
3.00-4.15pm SA time
2.30-3.45pm Queensland time
2.00-3.15pm NT time
12.30-1.45pm WA time

To register your interest in participating in this teleconference, contact info@refugeecouncil.org.au or call (02) 9211 9333.

RESEARCH AND RESOURCES

The Victorian Refugee Health Network
The Victorian Refugee Health Network brings together a wide range of representatives from the health, settlement and community sectors. Participants in the Network actively work on project and initiaves to support refugee health and wellbeing. The website provides information on services, resources, protocols and training opportunities and it will link service providers and give updates on news, policy developments, research, reports and useful websites. To review this research and resources, visit www.refugeehealthnetwork.org.au/Home/Home.htm

South Australian Refugee Health Network
The SA Refugee Health Network (SARHN) is open to participants from the health, education, welfare sectors, as well as all levels of government and even representatives from other states and territories. SARHN undertakes a variety of activities in the areas of advocacy, education and research. For more information, visit www.sarhn.org.au

NSW Refugee Health Service
The NSW Refugee Health Service aims to promote the health of people from a refugee background living in NSW by assisting refugees, and the health professionals who work with them. A number of resources are available through the Service's website: www.sswahs.nsw.gov.au/sswahs/refugee

Refugees and Primary Health (RaPH) Project
The Refugees and Primary Health (RaPH) project is a partnership between key refugee health services, primary and tertiary care providers, divisions of general practice, settlement support services and refugee communities. The project is focused on developing information and referral pathways to support primary health care professionals working with refugee communities and has compiled a list of key partners and web resources. More information is available at www.materonline.org.au/Home/Services/Refugee-health/Refugee-and-Primary-Health-Project.aspx

La Trobe Refugee Research Centre (LaRRC)
The La Trobe Refugee Research Centre is a part of the School of Social Sciences and a core affiliate of La Trobe University’s Institute for Human Security. LaRRC works to promote the wellbeing, participation and social inclusion of people with refugee backgrounds through applied and foundation research, teaching, continuing education and professional development. For more information, visit www.latrobe.edu.au/rhrc

Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT)
FASSTT is a network of Australia's eight specialist rehabilitation agencies that work with survivors of torture and trauma who have come to Australia from overseas. For more information, visit www.fasstt.org.au

PAST TELECONFERENCES