Engaging with refugee communities on
strategic, national and local settlement
issues
10th July 2014
National Refugee Resettlement Forum
Annette Mortensen
Northern Regional Alliance
Jennifer Lamm
Ministry 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%20Ass
essment%202010.pdf
Auckland Regional Public Health ServiceRefugee Health Screening Service
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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.
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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