Engaging and supporting general practice in refugee health

People from refugee backgrounds, including people seeking asylum, can experience complex physical and mental health conditions as a result of human rights violations, torture and trauma, disruption of basic services, poverty... [ view full abstract ]

People from refugee backgrounds, including people seeking asylum, can experience complex physical and mental health conditions as a result of human rights violations, torture and trauma, disruption of basic services, poverty and hardship, and prolonged periods of uncertainty (ASID/RHeaNA 2016). Timely access to health care is crucial for optimising health outcomes and addressing health inequities. General practice is a major provider of health care in Australia to people from refugee backgrounds. More general practices are needed who are willing, able and confident to deliver health care to people from refugee backgrounds. This project developed and trialled an approach to engaging and collaborating with private general practices to deliver accessible and appropriate health care to people from refugee backgrounds. The project was approved by an institutional ethics committee. Interviews, discussion groups and surveys were conducted with refugee health professionals, general practice staff, and community liaison workers. A multi-sectoral project advisory group informed the design. The Victorian Refugee Health Network partnered with two community health services and worked with refugee health nurses to co-create and trial tools and resources to support general practice in refugee health. The tools support conversations with practice staff about their motivations, values and challenges when working with people from refugee backgrounds, which informed the development of practice-led action plans that were trialled with six general practices. The project found that utilising co-creation principles promotes a strengths-based approach to working with general practices; values-based interviews can assist in the development of ongoing relationships with the practice; and that general practice engagement requires time, flexibility and skills. The tools are available to be used by others who wish to engage general practice in refugee health.