Meet Our Health Program

Yesterday we marked World Health Day, and what better way to mark the occasion than take you on a little tour of the ASRC’s Health Program in our brand new video.

ASRC upholds health as a human right – everyone deserves an equal, accessible health standard no matter their background – and we highlight the incredible contributions made by our volunteers and employees in trying to make this equal standard a reality. 

As one of our frontline services, the Health Program, along with the reception, social services, housing, material aid and food services, offers a range of primary health services to people seeking asylum living in the community, many of them with no access to Medicare or a GP, and no income or government support. 

The Health Program is run by eight nurses and one bi-cultural worker, with more than 60 additional health care volunteers offering their time and service free of charge. Our approach to health services is to ensure a comprehensive support system for vulnerable people, from personalising initial consultation to medical analysis and further checkups, to preventative healthcare, such as health promotion and diabetes support. The ASRC Health Program strives to ensure our communities are supported in their health journey so they can flourish and thrive. 

Partnering with a local pharmacy and covering the costs of prescriptions allows those with no Medicare or income support to access prescribed medication for chronic and debilitating conditions, like diabetes, epilepsy, cardiac failure, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress and other mental health conditions.

For complex psychological support, the Health Program offers mental health services, including volunteer psychiatrists, a mental health nurse, psychologist, and a counselor, and even a trauma-informed yoga course, promoting physical wellbeing and creating a safe and supportive space.

The Health Program, in collaboration with the Australian College of Optometry, offers an eye clinic with free tests and free glasses. The program also runs an immunisation clinic, providing catch up immunisations in line with the National Immunisation Program.

Our nurses not only go above and beyond providing excellent and compassionate care, checking on people after they leave our premises and supporting people to gain access to essential equipment, but if there is team spirit needed, you will find them decked in purple, front and centre at walks, runs and other community events.