Health in a New Home

We're thrilled to announce that our systematic review, Health Assets Among Refugees in Australia, is now available open access in BMC Public Health! A huge congratulations to all involved: Angela Dawson, Evelyn Adjei-Mensah, Andrew Hayen, Dr Sally Nathan, Anita Heywood, Abela Mahimbo, Heidi Merrington, and Claire Rogers. This is a remarkable achievement and a significant contribution to the field of research. https://lnkd.in/gnBY26nM

Last week, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Heidi Merrington and Project Officer, Evie Heap had the privilege of visiting Uniting Circle Multicultural Community Centre with CEO and founder, Mujgan Tahery. With a passion for social justice and community development, Mujgan has dedicated her career to empowering individuals from various backgrounds through education, support services, and cultural programs. Inclusivity, community engagement and collaboration are at the heart of what Uniting Circle do. They offer a range of services tailored to the diverse interests and needs of refugees and new arrivals including: ·        Communication promoting language classes ·        Diverse and tradition-rich cultural workshops ·        Health and wellness sessions for physical and mental well-being, ·        Basic computer classes for technology confidence, ·        Free grocery and clothing donations ·        Sewing classes ·        Youth programs Check out their website- https://lnkd.in/gVqaXipp Health in a New Home is collaborating with Uniting Circle to conduct focus groups facilitated by Mujgan with newly arrived refugees on what supports their community's health and well-being.

Professor and Chief Investigator Angela Dawson and Om Dhungel, FAICD had the pleasure of attending the Australian Bhutanese Multicultural Event last weekend at Memorial Hall, St Mary’s. The event celebrated intercultural collaboration, bringing together a diverse community to honor Bhutanese heritage and culture. The event featured vibrant performances alongside guest acts from diverse cultural groups. Highlights included a special appearance by the legendary Bhutanese singer Mr. Pratap Subba, now based in the USA.

Dr Abela Mahimbo and Evie Heap were delighted to attend the FECCA Conference 2024 earlier this week! 🎉 Held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event was an inspiring and enriching opportunity to network, learn, and engage. This year's theme, "Our Experiences. Our Future", highlighted the strengths and challenges faced by culturally and linguistically diverse communities across Australia. The program featured an impressive line-up of keynote speakers, panel discussions, hands-on experiences, and invaluable networking opportunities. A big thank you to the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia - FECCA and the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) for hosting such a fantastic event, and for having us back again this year. Looking forward to continuing the conversations and driving change together! 🙌

We're thrilled to share that our very first World Café was an incredible success! Facilitated by Om Dhungel, FAICD- an expert in the Strength-Based Approach to refugee settlement and community engagement. Om’s guidance made it a truly enriching experience, sparking meaningful discussions and creating a warm, inclusive environment. The World Café engaged people from refugee backgrounds to explore what supports and boosts their community's health and wellbeing. This is just the beginning, we’ll be running more World Cafés in several communities across Sydney and Melbourne. A huge thank you to the wonderful Parliament on King for their exceptional catering, and of course, our deepest gratitude to everyone who participated and made this day so memorable!

We're excited to announce the protocol paper for the Health in a New Home study is officially published online in BMJ Open! We're thrilled to share this milestone and contribute to research in refugee health and well-being. Check it out by following the link below! https://lnkd.in/geB6br_J

We're pleased to share that last week, UTS had the privilege of hosting Dr. Sarah Yeo from the University of Arizona. Dr. Yeo's work focuses on healthcare access and utilization among refugee populations in the United States and South Korea. Her visit marked the beginning of an exciting collaboration aimed at enhancing the uptake of cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination among refugee communities in both Australia and Arizona. During her visit, UTS PhD student Fantu Mamo Aragaw presented her groundbreaking research on the epidemiology of cancer and its relationship with the uptake of the cancer care continuum among refugee populations in Australia. Her work provides critical insights that will inform our collaborative efforts. We look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on enhancing the health and wellbeing for refugee communities.

"Compared with the rest of the population, refugees and humanitarian entrants are at a higher risk of physical and mental health issues. They are more likely to self-report long-term conditions, including diabetes (80% higher), kidney disease (80%), stroke (40%) and dementia (30%). We need to recognise and draw on the protective factors that are strongly linked to the health and wellbeing of people from refugee backgrounds. These include things such as social connectedness, resilience, a sense of belonging and identity, and adapting to a new culture." https://lnkd.in/gmb-vTaD

We are looking for a research associate/postdoc in biostatistics or epidemiology to work on refugee health at the UTS School of Public Health. We are a friendly, multidisciplinary team. https://lnkd.in/gAJiKY83

Today, on World Refugee Day, we come together to recognize and celebrate the strength, courage, and resilience of refugees and people seeking asylum around the globe. This year’s theme, 'Solidarity with Refugees', emphasizes the importance of creating a world where refugees are welcomed. Ways to Get Involved in Australia From anywhere in Australia, you can be a force for positive change by participating in activities and initiatives aimed at raising funds and awareness for refugees. Here are some ways you can contribute: 1. Fundraising: - Organize or participate in community events such as fun runs, bake sales, or concerts to raise money. 2. Donations: - Make direct donations to organizations that support refugees, such as the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA), and others. - Donate goods such as clothing, non-perishable food items, and other essentials to local shelters and support centers. 3. Volunteering: - Offer your time and skills to local refugee support organizations. 4. Advocacy: - Participate in advocacy campaigns - Use your voice on social media to spread awareness Supporting the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) The funds raised play a crucial role in supporting the ASRC, which provides: - Food and Shelter: Ensuring that refugees have access to basic necessities. - Healthcare: Offering medical services to those in need. - Legal Aid: Assisting refugees with navigating legal processes and securing their rights. - Essential Services: Providing education, employment support, and community programs. To help support the ASRC, follow the link here https://lnkd.in/gZmZG9AH... https://lnkd.in/g2QSbynU