Greer Lamaro

Service providers' experiences and needs in working with refugees in the Geelong region: a qualitative study.

Service providers in Geelong, one of the priority locations for the resettlement of refugees in regional Australia, were interviewed to explore their perceptions of the health and wellbeing needs of refugees, and the capacity of service providers in a regional area to meet these. In all, 22 interviews were conducted with health and human service professionals in a range of organisations offering refugee-specific services, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) services in general, and services to the wider community, including refugees. The findings revealed that a more coordinated approach would increase the effectiveness of existing services; however, the various needs of refugees were more than could be met by organisations in the region at current resource levels. More staff and interpreting services were required, as well as professional development for staff who have had limited experience in working with refugees. It should not be assumed that service needs for refugees resettled in regional Australia will be the same as those of refugees resettled in capital cities. Some services provided in Melbourne were not available in Geelong, and there were services not currently provided to refugees that may be critical in facilitating resettlement in regional and rural Australia.

A cross-sectional study examining the extent of unwanted sexual attention and unhealthy intimate relationships among female university students.

Issue addressed: Unwanted sexual attention and unhealthy intimate relationships have the potential to have serious negative health consequences. To date, there has been scant focus on these issues among university students in Australia. The aim of the current study was to describe the extent of unwanted sexual attention and unhealthy intimate relationships experienced in their lifetime by female university students aged 18-25 years.Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken involving 465 female students aged 18-25 years. Students were recruited through one faculty within a Victorian university and invited to complete an anonymous online questionnaire.Results: Sixty-seven per cent (n = 312) of female students reported experiencing unwanted sexual attention in their lifetime. The most common form of unwanted sexual attention was kissing or touching over clothes (98%; n = 306). Over 43% (n = 124) of the female students reported that the experience of unwanted sexual experience occurred after their protests were ignored. Thirty per cent (n = 135) of the female students reported experiencing at least one element of an unhealthy intimate relationship.Conclusions: The high rates of unwanted sexual attention and unhealthy intimate relationships among female university students is of concern given the negative impact such events can have on individuals physical, emotional and social well being.So what?: Public health and health promotion action is required to prevent female students from experiencing unwanted sexual attention and unhealthy intimate relationships, and to address the negative health and well being consequences.

Exploring the Australian policy context relating to women’s reproductive choices

ABSTRACT This study explored Australian federal level policy instruments which influence and impact on women’s reproductive choices and the consequences of those choices. A systematic policy search and mapping exercise was undertaken. Eighteen policy instruments were identified at the Federal level and were explored through a policy framework and thematic analysis. Findings indicate there are multiple layers of influence on women’s reproductive choices and the consequences of those choices, and the policy instruments interact in multiple dynamic, interconnected and contextual ways. Yet, they also lack cohesion and congruency, failing to account for women’s life circumstances while at the same time shifting the promoted position for women in each policy instrument. The policy instruments seek to regulate, control and selectively support women’s reproduction while simultaneously silencing, marginalising and reprimanding some groups of women.

Time for a new approach to refugee health in Australia

The national political agenda has recently been dominated by issues concerning refugees. While this is nothing new, the topic has attracted great attention during the recent Australian federal government election campaign. Also pertinent to the climate of the debates was the recent change in leadership of the Labor Government, and the subsequent action on policy directives around refugee issues. In particular, a conscious and deliberate effort to resettle refugees in rural and regional areas has been raised on the agenda. Once again, this matter is not new and has been pursued previously by the Government. However, the prospect of renewed efforts regarding this initiative has gone relatively unnoticed in social and media debate in light of seemingly more urgent debates about asylum seekers arriving by boat. On the later issue, discourses and debates have been dominated by arguments about national border security on one hand and the need to uphold and protect the human rights of asylum seekers on the other. But what of the human rights of those who have been granted visas and are currently resettling in Australia? There are matters of concern for this population that should not be overlooked in the midst of more topical debates concerning asylum seekers. The Government’s reasons for promoting the resettlement of refugees in rural and regional areas are primarily about promoting growth and development in those areas. Australia’s response to refugee resettlement in rural and regional areas could be strengthened with a new and equitable approach based on a human rights framework. Such a framework could provide comprehensive, appropriate and sufficient support to meet the broader and resettlement needs of refugees and communities beyond the acute phase. For instance, such a framework could make provisions for basic health and social care (invoking, as examples, Article 25 and 26 of the Declaration of Human Rights), and support to address employment and education (as examples of key human rights). Additionally, it could allow for initiatives to promote social connection and inclusion, invoking Article 27 of the Declaration, as well as culturally appropriate gendered and group based initiatives to promote long term gender and family inclusiveness in communities (invoking Articles 16, 22, 27, 29 by way of examples). Any failure to meet these basic human needs in either the s hort or longer term phases of resettlement would be a failure to address Australia’s human rights obligations, and would be to the detriment to those resettling and the broader community. We are currently presented with a new era in governance, and new opportunities to address pre-existing issues concerning refugee health and wellbeing. This includes the creation of a ministerial position focused on social inclusion. A fresh approach that evokes human rights is needed to enhance the social inclusion, health and wellbeing of refugees, and to achieve the benefits this has to offer. Such an approach would also contribute toward meeting Australia’s international human rights obligations. In the worlds of the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, “How we develop and manage our immigration policies reflects what we value as a people and how we think of ourselves as a nation”. It also serves national interests by fostering selfsufficiency and capacity building among individuals, and rural and regional communities. It is important that we embrace such an opportunity to benefit our nation’s citizens, and to enhance our position as responsible global citizens.