The Queensland Integrated Refugee Community Health Clinic (QIRCH) was created from a partnership between QPASTT, Mater Misericordiae Health Services and Queensland Health and launched in Oct 2002, after consultation and discussions with 29 community and health sector organisations Advisory Group. The QIRCH Clinic is a project of QPASTT and is funded by the Sisters of Charity and Holy Spirit, Queensland Health and through donations by our volunteer General Practitioners of 50-100% of their Medicare rebates. QIRCH was able to open full-time in 2004 thanks to the generosity of the Sisters of Charity and Holy Spirit. Currently the Clinic offers 12 one-hour GP sessions per week and 12 one-hour nursing sessions. We have 7 volunteer General Practitioners, a full-time Coordinator, Office Manager and Clinical Nurse and up to 9 hours of Community Health nursing hours. We are also supported by a Refugee Health Development Worker, who is employed by QPASTT, and works across an IHSS consortium to build capacity in the health sector to work with refugee clients.
The Clinic aims to provide culturally appropriate assessment and management of refugee and refugee claimant clients. We then facilitate the transfer of the client’s health care to a community based General Practice, and other appropriate community health care providers. The QIRCH Clinic does not aim to provide ongoing care for clients, unless there are exceptional circumstances preventing access to health care such as those experienced by refugee claimants without Medicare entitlement.
The Clinic is involved with the following activities:
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comprehensive health assessments and clinical services
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provision of a coordination function for health service providers to refugees
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education and information and referral to a range of settlement and health services
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referral to a community GP for ongoing care and management
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provision of training for nursing staff, general practitioners, allied health professionals in refugee health issues
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provision of education, supervision and mentorship for practitioners building an expertise in refugee health
The QIRCH Clinic is the result of collaborative work borne from effective partnerships. The clinic is managed by a Coordinator and advised by an Partnership Advisory Group that meets monthly. The Partnership Advisory Group has representatives from QPASTT, Mater Hospital, Sisters of Charity and Holy Spirit, Queensland Health (QEII Health Services District – Community Health and Brisbane Southside Public Health Unit), South East Alliance of General Practice and Refugee Claimants Support Centre.
For a referral to QIRCH, please complete this form and send via :
Email: qirch_clinic@mc.mater.org.au
Fax: 3840 8455
Post: QIRCH Clinic, Ground Floor Community Services Building, Mater Health Services, 39 Annerley Road, Woolloongabba QLD 4102.
Enquiries: 07 3480 2880
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