Delivering compassionate care to people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds
Established in 2002 as an initiative of Mater's mission, Mater Multicultural and Refugee Health Service is a national leader in delivering care for multicultural communities.
We provide care to people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds, including general practice, psychiatry, paediatrics, health coordination, care support for people arriving in Brisbane under the Australian Government's Humanitarian Settlement Program, health education, resource development, advocacy and research.
Our clinics
Asylum Seeker GP Clinic (known as MRCCC)
The Asylum Seeker GP Clinic (MRCCC) provides comprehensive primary care for people seeking asylum throughout south-east Queensland. This is a Queensland Health funded service, with additional support from Mater Foundation's philanthropic partners.
The Asylum Seeker GP Clinic (MRCCC) is a no-cost service for eligible patients. Patients can walk-in, or GPs, specialists or community service providers can refer.
P: 07 3163 2880
Referral information
Eligibility criteria:
Adults or children who are seeking asylum in Australia, and who have lodged an application for a protection visa and are waiting on a determination on their refugee status and who are covered by the Queensland Health Asylum Seeker Health Directive.
How to refer:
Patients can self-refer, or referrals can be made by GPs, other healthcare providers, and community organisations.
- GPs and Specialists: Complete a Mater Outpatient Referral Form and select 'Mater Refugee Complex Care Clinic' under 'Other.' Send referrals via email or fax 07 3163 8455.
- Community service providers or self-referral: Complete the Community Referral Form or call 07 3163 2880 for further information.
- Walk-in referrals are welcome
Refugee and Asylum Seeker General Paediatric Clinic
Our general paediatric clinic is a one session per fortnight clinic, provided in partnership with Queensland Children's Hospital (QCH). This is a bulk-billed service for Medicare-eligible patients and no-cost for patients without Medicare.
Patients must have a GP or specialist referral.
Referral information
Eligibility criteria:
- Children aged 0-16 years from refugee or asylum seeker backgrounds.
- Children who are eligible or ineligible for Medicare.
How to refer:
Referrals must be made by a GP or Specialist, by completing a Mater Outpatient Referral Form or QCH Specialist Referral Form.
Send referrals via email (addressed to “Dr Ganesh Senthilnathan - MRCCC") or fax 07 3163 8455 or submit via Queensland Health Smart Referrals.
Please note: if your client is an asylum seeker and they do not have a community GP please consider referral to our Asylum Seeker GP clinic (detailed above).
Refugee and Asylum Seeker Psychiatry Clinic
Our psychiatry clinic delivers culturally safe psychiatric assessments for refugee and asylum seekers clients. This is a bulk-billed clinic one day per week for Medicare-eligible patients and no-cost for patients without Medicare.
Patients must have a GP or specialist referral.
Referral information
Eligibility criteria:
- Adults aged 18 – 65 years
- Asylum seeker or refugee background
- Patients who do not require acute care (can wait over 6 weeks for an appointment and over 4 weeks between follow-ups).
- Patients unable to access other mental health services (e.g., no Medicare access or cultural/linguistic barriers).
How to refer:
Referrals must be made by a GP or Specialist, by completing a Mater Outpatient Referral Form, selecting Psychiatry Speciality.
Send referrals via email (addressed to “Dr Nga Tran - MRCCC"), fax: 07 3163 8455, or via Queensland Health Smart Referrals.
Please note: if your client is an asylum seeker and they do not have a community GP please consider referral to our Asylum Seeker GP clinic (detailed above).
For additional mental health support for refugees and asylum seekers, please visit Refugee Health Network Queensland
Multicultural Health Coordination Program
Multicultural Health Coordination Program (MHCP) supports people from multicultural backgrounds who have unmet complex health and wellbeing needs.
Our team including clinical nurses and a social worker partner with patients, their community GP and other health and community services to improve health outcomes and address the social determinants of health. Services are delivered in general practices, Mater South Brisbane, home visits, or other location suitable to the patient. Length of engagement is determined by need.
This program is funded by Queensland Health as part of the Connected Community Pathways program and works in partnership with the local Hospital and Health Services and PHNs to address systemic barriers encountered by participants.
Mater Integrated Refugee Health Service (MIRHS)
Mater Integrated Refugee Health Service (MIRHS) is a Queensland Health-funded on-arrival triage, nursing health assessments, and primary care support service for people settling in Brisbane under the Australian Government Humanitarian Program.
We work closely with settlement services, GPs, and other community and health support services to ensure responsive, flexible healthcare.
For further information about Queensland Health’s funded refugee health programs in Queensland please visit Refugee Health Network Queensland or Queensland Health Refugee and Asylum Seeker services.
Health Literacy Project
Refugee Health Consultants deliver community workshops about navigating the Health System in Queensland to multicultural communities delivered in language or with an interpreter in the Brisbane South region. This project is funded by Brisbane South PHN.
Refugee Maternity Service
Mater’s dedicated Refugee Maternity Service provides health care, psycho-social support and resources for women of a refugee background birthing at Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
A multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, midwives, an interpreter and a social worker work together to ensure continuity of care.
Networks and resources
Brisbane Refugee Health Advisory Group
The Brisbane Refugee Health Advisory Group (known as the ‘G11’) comprises 11 Health Refugee Health Consultants who are all regarded as natural leaders in their respective communities from South Sudan, Eritrea, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Congo and Myanmar.
The group is a mechanism through which health services can have access to the voice of refugee communities. The group also facilitates training and education of staff, participate in research projects and contribute to developing health literacy resources.
Refugee Health Network Queensland
Mater Refugee and Multicultural Health auspice the Refugee Health Network Queensland.
The Refugee Health Network Queensland was established in 2016 to facilitate greater coordination and collaboration amongst health and community services to provide more accessible and appropriate health services for people of refugee backgrounds.
Resources for clinicians working with patients from a refugee background
Visiting our clinic
Level 3, Potter Building Annex
Annerley Road, South Brisbane
Phone 07 3163 2880
Fax 07 3163 8455
| For translated directions, please view the links below: | |
Location
Level 3, Potter Building Annex
Annerley Road
South Brisbane QLD 4101
