Connell, J. (2011) Health of humanitarian entrants in Queensland, Australia. In: Tropical Medicine and International Health (16) 5.2-005. p. 361. From: 7th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health, 3-6 October 2011, Barcelona, Spain.

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Abstract

Introduction: Australia welcomes about 13,000 people on humanitarian visas – refugees, women at risk, etc. each year. In 2010–2011 about 1600 of these were settled around Queensland. In 2008 the Queensland government funded a new statewide health service to support access to health care for these entrants. This service consisted in a ‘hub’ (service manager and medical officer) and six ‘spokes’, around the state. The spokes function in a variety of organisations with very different models of care.

Methods and Materials: This presentation will give an overview of the statewide service and the different models of care used. Each provides a nursing assessment of the new arrival; some spokes also provide a medical assessment, immunisations, pathology testing and referrals to other services. One regional service provides extended support to the entrants and health care providers within the community, sometimes for more than 1 year.

Results: Humanitarian entrants to Queensland receive varied support for their health care on arrival depending on where they settle. There has not been any evaluation of the different models of care provided for the more than 3000 entrants to Queensland since the start of the statewide service.

Conclusions: The refugee health service in Queensland is a good start to support the health care of new arrivals. However without the extra support that is provided in Townsville most of the entrants would be unable to negotiate the Queensland health system and would therefore not have their health issues dealt with appropriately.

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