Leading with Empathy: ASRC’s Health Program

At the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), we believe that access to healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. Our Health Program exists to provide vital, compassionate healthcare services to people seeking asylum who are often locked out of mainstream healthcare systems. 

Many of our members face complex health challenges, including trauma-related conditions, chronic illnesses, and mental health issues, all while navigating the uncertainties of the asylum process. Without Medicare access or the ability to afford even basic health care such as medication, their needs can go unmet — unless we step in.

Our Health Program offers the following services:

• Primary healthcare clinics staffed by volunteer GPs, nurses, and allied health professionals
• Mental health support, including counselling and wellbeing programs
• Access to vital medication
• Catch-up immunisations for adults and children
• Referrals to community care and coordination with external specialists.
• Culturally safe, trauma-informed care that respects every individual’s lived experience

Our incredible team of volunteer clinicians and healthcare workers, supported by ASRC staff, delivers these services free of charge, in a way that promotes dignity and empowerment. Whether it’s a nurse monitoring chronic health conditions, a doctor providing a consultation, or a mental health worker offering a safe space to talk, each person plays a vital role in restoring health and hope.

Siobhan and Molly, registered emergency nurses and our Health Program volunteers, talk about how volunteering at the ASRC feels like family.

At ASRC, healthcare is more than treatment,  it is a powerful act of solidarity. We also advocate for systemic change, raising our voice to demand better healthcare access for people seeking asylum and refugees nationwide. Together, we stand for a future where no one’s health is compromised because of their visa status.

If you’re a healthcare professional or someone passionate about health justice, we’d love to hear from you! Find out more about volunteering or supporting our Health Program.

#HealthForAll #HealthcareIsAHumanRight #ASRCHealth #SolidarityInAction