Urbis has been commissioned by the NSW Ministry of Health (the Ministry) to develop a Refugee Health Plan for 2018-2023. This project comprises:
The project involved ethics-approved consultation with over 200 stakeholders, including settlement services, and people from refugee backgrounds. Consultations were undertaken in five regions, including Western Sydney and Illawarra, which enabled building strong relationships with refugee groups in these areas. Urbis adopted a flexible, culturally appropriate and trauma-informed approach to consulting with people of a refugee background. Interpreters and bilingual facilitators in relevant languages were employed, relevant documentation was translated.
The evaluation of the previous Refugee Health Plan involved a survey of staff delivering health services, and analysis of service data. In partnership with the Ministry, Urbis developed a new state-wide Refugee Health Plan for 2018-2023 and an evaluation framework to monitor and evaluate actions under the new Plan.
The review and evaluation framework informed future decisions on:
- model(s) of best practice
- changes to ongoing service development, delivery and evaluation
- future investments in refugee health services.