Dear friends and stakeholders,
Our June newsletter coincides with Refugee Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of refugees from diverse backgrounds, and acknowledge the courage, strength and resourcefulness that exists among refugee communities as they work to rebuild their lives in a foreign country.
This year’s theme, "Finding Freedom: Family" pays tribute to the profound role that familial bonds play in the lives of those forced to flee their homelands and recognises that most often it is family connections and the strength of chosen bonds that ground refugees with a sense of solace, support and belonging.
As reported by the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, the experience of displacement, war and conflict, may increase a person’s risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. The stress of navigating new systems in a foreign country can also contribute to distress and negatively impact the wellbeing of individuals and broader communities. For asylum seekers, long periods of uncertainty surrounding visa statuses and time in immigration detention centers, can also have a significant impact on mental health and wellbeing.
Over recent years, Australia has made significant strides towards improving settlement support for refugees and asylum seekers, including initiatives such as the Refugee and Humanitarian Program and the establishment of specialised torture and trauma counselling and support services in every state and territory. There is also a genuine commitment from the service sector to continue to improve their cultural responsiveness to better support refugee communities through engaging with training and programs like the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Project and resources such as the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide.
In this week of reflection and celebration, we encourage you to explore the events hosted by the Refugee Council of Australia, seek out resources on the Refugee Week website, and reach out to us if you would like to learn more about how you can better support those in your community.
The Embrace Project team
Get in touch: multicultural@mhaustralia.org |