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This page provides a guide for caseworkers on service access for refugee and asylum seeker children and families. A presentation is available to provide training on service access (see resources ).

• Acute care access
• Refugee health screening and immunisation catch-up
• Primary care (refugee health teams, general practice, maternal and child health)
• Medications and pharmacy access
• Allied health
• Specialist care
• Mental health
• Education
• Other (consumer liaison, language services)
• Resources

Acute care access

Ambulance services are Ìý²¹²Ô»å public hospitals and related services are free for all refugees and asylum seekers, including asylum seekers in Community Detention.ÌýSee: , , Ìý²¹²Ô»å .

Refugee health screening

All permanent entrants to Australia have an 3-12 months before they travel (see ), Humanitarian entrants are offered an additional (voluntary) Ìýin the week prior to travel. These assessments rule out public health issues and make sure people are ‘fit to fly’. Health screening in Immigration detention is similar to the IME.

A is recommended for all people arriving as refugees or seeking asylum after they arrive in Australia. Available data suggest <5% of children receive recommended health screening in Victoria.Ìý

Has my client had a refugee health assessment?

Have they had:

• Blood tests
• Faecal specimen
• Tuberculosis screening - either with a tuberculin skin test (needle into the skin of the left forearm, and measured two days later) or a blood test
• Covid vaccination (age 5y+) and 3 sets of vaccines (~3-4 needles in each set) over 4 months. Children 0-9 years will need 4 sets of vaccines over 10 months.

Have the results been checked?ÌýHave abnormal results been treated? Does the client understand their results? Health screening and follow up of results will take at least two visits.

Has my client completed catch-up Immunisation?

Catch-up vaccinations are provided through general practitioners (GPs). They may also be provided at local council (for children <10 years), asylum seeker healthcare services,Ìý paediatric refugee health specialist clinics or hospital-based services. Catch-up immunisation is essential for protection against vaccine preventable diseases (VPD), and is also required for (family tax benefit and childcare fee assistance) and enrolment in early childhood education. Available evidence shows only 24% of refugees resident in Victoria 12 months or longer receive adequate catch-up vaccination in primary care. Ìý

Primary health care

• Ìýprovide advice on referral pathways and services. See .
• ³Ò±Ê²õÌýcan provide physical and mental health care, preventive health care, catch-up vaccinations, and refugee health screening. GPs are available through community health centres (free), local bulk-billing doctors (free) or local private doctors (fees vary and there may be gap payments).Ìý See: - refugee health teams will know of local GPs with refugee health experience.
  • Community detention (residence determination)Ìý– people need to attend their International Health and Medical Service (IHMS) approved general practitioner - details on approved services are not publicly available.Ìý
• support parenting and children’s health and development from birth until school age. MCH provide advice on playgroups and community programs, some MCH services provide immunisation.Ìý Routine checks are due at birth, 2w, 4w, 8w, 4m, 8m, 12m, 18m, 2y and 3.5yrs.Ìý

What should clients bring to medical appointments?

• Any health summaries, including IHMS summaries if relevant
• Any test results
• Immunisation records
• Medications, including traditional medicines (it is always easier to review medications directly)

Medications and pharmacy access

• Medicare - people have access to PBS medications - .
• Ìý- people have access to PBS medications at low cost () - see . People on bridging visas (i.e. BVE) do not have access to HCC.
• Status Resolution Support services (SRSS)Ìý- people have access to PBS medications at a cost equivalent to the HCC cost. Normal costs for over the counter medications. People on band 5 support may be fully funded for PBS medications with prior approval.
• Community detentionÌý- people have access to medications at their nominated IHMS approved pharmacy. Details of these pharmacies are not publicly available.
• Pharmacy waivers - are available from , andÌý. Registered .

Dental care

• Ìýare free to all refugees and asylum seekers, and all children aged 0-12 years – these groups are identified asÌýÌýgroups. SeeÌý

Allied health care

• Vision checksÌýcan be accessed at commercial bulk-billing optometrists for clients with Medicare or at the Ìý(and associated outreach)Ìý which also has affordable glasses.Ìý School-age children may have their vision checked at school entry (this varies).
• Hearing checksÌýcan be accessed at .Ìý also provide audiology. Hearing aids are available through .
  
• Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapyÌýare available through:
  • Ìý- these services often have age cut points for children (6 years or school entry), despite that define target populations as 0-12 years.
  • (ECEI) - children with developmental issues in more than one domain may be eligible for allied health through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), although waiting lists are long. Asylum seeker children/children in detention can also be referred (see Disability webpage for process).
  • Hospitals provide allied health services for hospital inpatients.Ìý
  • School aged children may be able to access allied health at school (usually in place in specialist education, rare in mainstream education).
  • Private allied health is often inaccessible due to cost.ÌýBilingual health professional directoriesÌýare available:
    • Ìý²¹²Ô»å
      
    • Ìý(use advanced search)
• Community detention - individuals require case by case approval via IHMS for allied health services.

Specialist paediatric care

MetropolitanÌý Ìý

• Craigieburn Health Service - Paediatric Refugee Health ClinicÌýÌý
  • Address: 274-304 Craigieburn Rd, Craigieburn, 3064Ìý
  • Paediatricians: (Dr Czarina Calderon and paediatric fellow)Ìý
  • Contact details: Phone 8338 3081, Fax 8405 8616. Email: NH-SpecialtyPracticeGroup3@nh.org.auÌý
  • Notes: Clinic alternate Thursdays. Intake coordinator: Kerene Oppedisano, GP referrals required.
    
    
• DandenongÌý-ÌýÌý- internal referrals onlyÌýÌý
  
  • Address: 122 Thomas St, DandenongÌý
  • Paediatrician: Dr Saniya Kazi and community paediatrics fellowÌý
  • Contact details: Phone 9792 8100, Fax 9792 7765, Email:Ìýrhn@monashhealth.orgÌý(and attention to refugee health nurse on triage)ÌýÌý
  • Notes: Weekly Monday Afternoon clinic. GP Referrals required.
  Ìý Ìý
• ÌýPaediatric Clinic.ÌýÌý
  
  • Address: 300 Bell Street, Preston, 3072Ìý
  • Paediatrician: Dr Sophie OldfieldÌý
  • Contact details: Phone 8470 1111, Fax 8470 1107. New referrals to referrals@yourch.org.au (emails preferred)Ìý
  • Notes: 3rd Thursday of every month - focus is vitamin D. GP Referrals required.Ìý
    
    
• - Paediatric clinicÌý
  • Address: 106 Station St, Deer Park, 3023Ìý
  • Paediatrician: Dr Yoko AsakawaÌý
  • Contact details: Phone 1300 472 432, Fax 8322 0348, Email:Ìýhayley.carver@ipchealth.com.au ÌýÌý
  • Notes: Monthly clinic on a Wednesday 09:30 - 12:30. GP Referrals required -Ìýnot taking referrals July-Nov 2025
    
    
• Flemington - Royal Children's HospitalÌýImmigrant health clinic Ìý
  • Address: 50 Flemington Road, ParkvilleÌý
  • Paediatricians: Drs Georgie Paxton, Andrea Smith, Shidan Tosif, Davina Buntsma, Hamish Graham, Nivedita Anguswamy, Sarah Allen; Mental Health Dr Tiba Maloof, Tasha Holt
  • Contact details: Phone 93455522, fax 03 9345 5034. Email: screferrals@rch.org.au
  • Notes: Monday and Tuesday clinics, GP referral preferred, although direct referrals accepted -Ìýrefugee.fellow@rch.org.au.
    
    
• FootscrayÌý-ÌýÌý
  • Address: 78 Paisley St, Footscray, 3011Ìý
  • Paediatricians: Dr Jane Standish, Dr Jade Woon and paediatric fellow from RCHÌý
  • Contact details: Phone 9448 5502, Fax 7000 1818 Ìý
  • Notes: Thursday clinic Child refugee health, general/developmental paediatricsÌýin immigrant health setting. GP Referrals required. Ìý
    Ìý
    
• Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health internal referrals onlyÌýÌý
  • Address: 5 Alexandra Ave, Hoppers Crossing 3029Ìý
  • Paediatrician: Dr Dan MasonÌý
  • Contact Details: Phone 8001 3049, Fax 8804 5848, Email: info@utopiarefugeehealth.com Ìý Ìý
  • Notes: Thursday clinic once/month. GP referrals required
    
    
• Ringwood EastÌý- EACH clinicÌý
  
  • Address: 75 Patterson Street, Ringwood East, 3134Ìý
  • Paediatrician: Dr Jade Woon and Dr Eva SudburyÌý
  • Contact details: Phone 9837 3900, Email: refugee.admin@each.com.au and refugee.health@each.com.auÌýÌýÌý
  • Notes: clinic 6-8 weekly, variable days . GP Referrals required, renew yearly.Ìý

Regional

• Ballarat:ÌýÌýBallarat Community Health CentreÌýÌý
  • Address 12 Lilburne St, Lucas 3350Ìý
  • Paediatrician: Dr David TickellÌý
  • Contact Details: Phone 5338 4500, Fax 5336 1613ÌýÌý
  • Notes: Clinic operates Thursdays, weekly. Clinic focus is vitamin D. GP Referrals required. Ìý
    
    
• BendigoÌý- Bendigo Community Health Services Paediatric clinic.ÌýÌý
  • Address: 19 Helm St, Kangaroo Flat VIC 3555Ìý
  • Paediatrician: Dr Anne DawsonÌý
  • Contact Details: Phone 5430 0500, Fax 5441 4200, Email:Ìýmail@bchs.com.auÌý
  • Notes: General paediatric clinic which accommodates refugees Alternating Monday/Tuesdays. GP Referrals required.Ìý
    
    
• Ìý(Barwon Health) Paediatric Refugee Health ClinicÌýÌý
  
  • Address: 73 Little Ryrie st (cnr Argyle St), Geelong, 3220Ìý
  • Paediatrician: Dr Jane Standish and Dr Kate McCloskeyÌýÌý
  • Contact Details: Phone 4215 1396, Fax 4215 1383, Email: outpatientpaediatricrefugee@barwonhealth.org.au, coordinator Jude Butwilowsky -Ìýjude.butwilowsky@barwonhealth.org.au.ÌýÌýÌýÌý
  • Notes: Tuesday morning 9:30 - 12:00. Geelong Hospital Outpatient Annexe, (opposite hospital main entrance) GP Referrals required. Referral form available on Barwon Health website, please fax referrals.Ìý ÌýÌý
  
  
• - paediatric clinicÌý \
  • Address: 399 Wyndham St, Shepparton, 3630Ìý
  • Paediatrician: community paediatrics fellowÌý
  • Contact Details: Phone 5823 3200, Referrals . Ìý
  • Notes: clinic alternate Wednesday mornings. GP Referrals required.ÌýÌý Ìý

• Other specialist paediatric outpatient services -ÌýAll hospitals in Victoria see children except RMH, Alfred, St Vincents and Footscray.
• Most Ìýalso have visiting paediatricians.Ìý

Mental HealthÌý

• Please see Ìýresources.Ìý
• Bilingual health professionals:
  • Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌý

Education services

Kindergarten

Ìýis essential for children’s development and to prepare them for school – see . Ìý

• Ìý(also see ) is free for refugee and asylum seeker children. Please do not enrol 3-year old children into 4-year old programs.Ìý
• The Ìýis available (for refugees/SHP visa 200–217, Asylum seekers on BV A–F , TPV 447, 451, 785, RoS visa holders).Ìý
• Pre-School Field Officers (PSFO) are available to help children with developmental problems who are attending kindergarten (kindergartens make referrals to the PSFO).
• Community detention – kindergarten fees and placement need to be approved by the Department of Home Affairs, via the families SRSS case manager.

SchoolsÌý

• Please check date of birth and consider grade placement - we recommend placing refugee background students so they are with the older students in a given year level - e.g. a 6 year old child is better placed in foundation/prep (which has 5-year old and 6-year old students). Please call us if helpful.Ìý
• English language schools and centres (ELS/C)Ìý- new arrival students (in Victoria <18 months) can access intensive Ìýin Victorian ELS/C.Ìý
• ,Ìý, and schoolsÌýare available.Ìý
• Asylum seekers can continue to the end of the school year in which they turn 18 years.Ìý Schools can access additional support for students with disability. Disability support is also available to students attending language schools.
• Community detentionÌý-Ìýstudents can attend either Government or Catholic schools.
• New arrivals from Gaza - ContactÌýInternational Education Division at: international@education.vic.gov.au for enrolment with fees waived for 6 months. Ph: +61 3 7022 1000.

Other

• Patient advocacy/consumer liaisonÌýis available in all hospitals for all patients, and is an important resource for progressing concerns or adverse events, or providing positive/other feedback. See RCH feedback (available in different languages).
• Language Services -ÌýInterpreter services are a right and entitlement for families with low English proficiency.
  • Hospitals – usually provided internally (advocate)
  • Community health – variable arrangements (advocate)
    
  • Private GPs or specialists – 131450Ìý(free) - doctors need to be registered
  • Pharmacists - (free)
  • - may have access to TIS.ÌýOther private allied health - free interpreting may not be available.
  • ATAPS mental health providers – should be available (advocate) - e.g. - NWMPHN.

Resources

• provides an extensive .
  
• Bilingual health professional directoriesÌý
  • Ìý²¹²Ô»å
  • Ìý(use advanced search)
    
  • (advanced search by language).Ìý Ìý