About us - Centre For Migrant and Refugee Health

WHY WE ARE HERE

We aim to offer mental health education and effective therapeutic solutions that promote fair access to healthcare services, enhance mental health outcomes, and improve overall quality of life. We provide exceptional therapy or intervention by phone, online, or in-person sessions to assist with referrals for you or your loved ones to receive culturally sensitive, appropriate, and specialised mental healthcare treatments.

Founded in 2019, the Centre for Migrant and Refugee Health (CMRH) is at the forefront of addressing the mental health and wellbeing challenges facing migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Australia. With a focus on public health, CMRH employs a holistic approach to mental healthcare, merging clinical interventions with practical, evidence-based solutions to promote health equity.

Our mission is to enhance mental health awareness among these communities, vigorously fighting stigma and discrimination while tackling the social determinants that affect health outcomes. CMRH prioritizes preventative measures and proactive management of risk factors to improve quality of life and ensure equal access to health services for all.

In addition to providing healthcare, CMRH is actively involved in research, policy formation, and advocacy efforts. We acknowledge the complex interplay between mental health issues and chronic diseases within the context of broader social challenges. Our comprehensive strategy allows us to address intricate health issues effectively, considering the impact of socioeconomic inequalities and social disparities.

CMRH is deeply committed to social justice and to eliminating health disparities. We strive to create a nurturing environment where every individual can realize their potential for optimal health outcomes. This commitment extends beyond healthcare to our broader dedication to promoting a fair and equitable society.

Our Mission

Advance public health leadership with a unified national voice in addressing mental illness and related social determinants of health to achieve better health outcomes and quality of life through mental health promotion, clinical and practical solutions through codesign, research, policy, and advocacy.

Our Values

CMRH principles and values are set with core beliefs that guide centre actions, operation and coordination with the stakeholders and partners inside and outside CMRH.

Our Objective

We aim to provide access to carers, parents, families, and young people at risk of mental illness to culturally safe, appropriate interventions and specific mental healthcare services that minimise hospital admissions and readmission.

Our Vision

Seeks a network of collaborative and sustained mental health education, and campaign awareness efforts to improve access to culturally safe, appropriate, and specific mental health and healthcare services for socially isolated, vulnerable, and low socioeconomic carers, parents, families, and young people.

Our Statement

At the Centre for Migrant and Refugee Health (CMRH), we dedicate ourselves to creating a safe social environment that significantly enhances the mental health and well-being of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers within Australia. Our mission draws from a profound understanding of the extensive adversities these populations face, which include persecution, conflict, deprivation, and, in some cases, torture and other egregious human rights violations. These traumatic experiences severely affect their physical and mental health and complicate their adjustment to a new life in a foreign country.

Upon their arrival in Australia, it is typical for refugees and asylum seekers to encounter a spectrum of health challenges. These include psychological disorders, nutritional deficiencies, infectious diseases, insufficient vaccinations, inadequate dental and optical health, unmanaged chronic conditions, and stunted growth in children. Moreover, many refugee women grapple with significant reproductive health issues, such as the consequences of female genital mutilation and experiences of sexual violence.

Initial health evaluations are conducted at the primary care level to address these multifaceted health issues. Care is delivered through private general practices, state-funded community health centres employing salaried general practitioners, or specialized refugee health services. These specialized services are critical; they are specifically designed to meet these individuals’ unique health needs and surmount the substantial barriers they encounter in accessing mainstream healthcare. They also support general practitioners in private practice, who may find it challenging to address these complex needs independently.

Our approach at CMRH goes beyond traditional humanitarian aid, short-term support, and assistance. We acknowledge that the severe adversities experienced by refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers—such as persecution, conflict, deprivation, and torture—do not simply vanish upon relocation. These experiences profoundly impact their lives, influencing their health long after they have arrived in Australia. Our mission is, therefore, rooted in a deep understanding of these past experiences and integrating this knowledge into our care models. We strive to provide these individuals with equal opportunities, helping them integrate into society and empowering them to enhance their lives.

At CMRH, we leverage these individuals’ inherent strengths and resilience to build their capacity for a successful future. This includes tailored interventions that address both past traumas and current challenges. Our comprehensive support system addresses immediate health needs and promotes long-term wellness and integration by addressing social determinants of health, including education, mentoring, empowerment, and employment. We are committed to ensuring that each person we serve has the opportunity to thrive, contributing positively to their new community. Our ultimate goal is to achieve healthcare equity, making it a tangible reality for every individual, irrespective of their background.

Mr Mabor Chadhuol
Chairman, Director, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Founder, CMRH

OUR MISSION

In pursuit of our mission, we strive to:

Centre of Excellence

Goal: Strive to be nationally recognized as a leading mental health education and awareness institution.
Focus: Specifically cater to migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, CALD, and broader communities across Australia.

Mental Health Awareness and Education

Initiatives: Launch educational programs and campaigns to elevate mental health awareness and target migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and the broader Australian community.
Resources: Provide culturally and linguistically tailored resources to destigmatize mental health issues, boost understanding, and promote early intervention.

Community Integration and Social Inclusion

Activities: Organize community events and workshops to enhance community bonds; Establish support groups that foster social interaction, a sense of belonging, and integration.
Advocacy: Address and advocate for social justice issues affecting vulnerable groups.

Addressing Social Determinants of Health

Collaboration: Work alongside government bodies, non-profits, and local enterprises.
Objective: Address socioeconomic factors impacting mental health in vulnerable populations.

Capacity Building

Education: Educate carers, families, and youth to recognize early signs of mental health issues.
Support: Provide effective interventions to aid recovery and enhance resilience.

Collaboration for Accessible Services

Partnerships: Collaborate with non-governmental organizations, including local mental healthcare, healthcare, and private agency providers, to create accessible and affordable mental health and wellbeing services.
Services: Focus on counselling, psychotherapy, and specialized workshops encompassing art and craft for happiness; cognitive assessment services; creativity and wellbeing; self-compassion drop-in services; mindfulness practice circles; social confidence circles; international student support drop-in services; an empathy development program; functional family therapy; and foster care capacity building and support. These workshops can help facilitate stress management, communication, conflict resolution, mindfulness, coping strategies, and medication provision for vulnerable migrants, refugees, people seeking asylum, and the community.

OUR VALUES

CMRH principles and values are set with core beliefs that guide centre actions, operation and coordination with the stakeholders and partners inside and outside of CMRH.

RESPECT

For health rights of an individual migrant, refugee, and an asylum seeker with consideration on their beliefs and religious practices.

EQUITABLE ACCESS

Promote equitable access to mental healthcare services with cultural appropriateness.

SAFETY

Prioritisation of safety and care for all CALD communities, including migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

INTEGRITY

Works on strong ethical values, accountability, and transparency.

EXCELLENCE

Maintain high standards in all our work with partner agencies and stakeholders.

OUR OBJECTIVES

We do this through best practices that:

promote health rights of people most susceptible to mental illness in Australia to enjoy a high standard of social, physical, and mental health
provide education, campaign awareness, research, information sharing, policy development, advocacy, and support
provide capacity building, knowledge and inform the community on prevention, treatment strategies or intervention on mental health and social determinants
support and advocate for the policies that address health inequity and inequality
support and advocate the continuity and quality of care for all migrant, refugee and asylum seekers backgrounds.

STRATEGIC LINKAGE

Mental health is a fundamental component of health and crucial to recognise its impact on our society. Lack of understanding of stigma and mental disorders is a significant barrier to seeking help and promoting better mental health and impact our quality of life causing a burden on the economy.

CMRH seeks partnership and collaboration with governmental and non-governmental institutions to promote policies that help address mental health and wellbeing for migrant, refugee and asylum seeker’s backgrounds people. We implement actions that improve mental illness and psychological disorders, including:

early interventions with programs and mental health promotional activities target vulnerable young people in schools
socio-economic empowerment of women
social support for elderly populations
employment opportunities for all individuals regardless of race or gender.
mental health interventions at workplaces
housing policies
domestic and family violence prevention programs
anti-discrimination, prejudice and racism laws.

Policy Support and Advocacy

CMRH advocates for policies that support social justice and equal opportunities in access to decent housing, employment, education, and food security.

The centre recognises challenges that confound individual lives, mental health and wellbeing. Championing for complementary policies and services development is why CMRH seeks to advance partnership, networking, and collaboration for immediate solutions.

Partnership, Collaboration and Research

CMRH utilises a multidisciplinary approach towards achieving a common goal for better mental health outcomes.

CMRH believes circumstances that poise mental illness requires concerted efforts through collaborative approaches. We aim for the future that utilises existing relationships to continue pursuing policies that support best practices in research and advocacy for social change.

Centre for Migrant and Refugee Health

We are here to help you!

Our services range from onsite, referral, and outreach (home-based) programs. We provide culturally safe, appropriate interventions and mental healthcare-specific services. In addition, the centre supports research and advocate for policies that eliminate systemic inequities and inequalities in accessing mental health and healthcare services.