Message from the Chief of Operations What a year it has been! It’s hard to remember the time before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Australia in mid-March. Like the rest of the community, our lives changed overnight and, as I write this report, some of our northern and south-eastern suburbs are resuming lockdown due to a surge in the infection rate.
During the pandemic, we have been particularly concerned about our Asylum Seeker Health Service clients. More than 50 per cent are not eligible for Medicare, which creates barriers to accessing testing. Many of those with Medicare have lost employment as workplaces have shut down and, as people seeking asylum do not have access to the Federal Government support packages, are facing economic stress and risk of destitution. They are already a vulnerable population with a higher burden of chronic disease compared to the general population and more complex mental health issues compared with public mental health services. Our paid and pro bono staff at the Cabrini Asylum Seeker Health Hub responded by introducing telehealth as the standard method of consultation. They identified and reached out to the most vulnerable clients, ensuring they had enough medication and putting a plan in place should they become ill. In August 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services provided a grant to expand our Specialist Mental Health Service for people seeking asylum to Melbourne’s western suburbs. This enabled us to increase capacity for case coordination and counselling and add a psychiatry registrar to the team, in collaboration with North Western Area Mental Health Service. In late 2019, we completed the planned internal restructure and began the new calendar year with four new staff. Catherine Balnionis replaced Louisa Timbrell, who completed her 12 month internship in January. The recruitment of Megan Keyes to the role of Grant
8
The Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub in Brunswick, Victoria.
Acquisition and Engagement Manager completed our small administration and accountability team. Lana Webb took up the position of Primary Care Manager for Papua New Guinea. This was to be our first permanent in-country role, however the COVID-19 border closures have delayed her deployment. Loretta Hoban was appointed to the second new role, Program Manager, with responsibility for leading the capacity strengthening work with our partners in Australia and overseas.
C A B R I N I O U T R E AC H A N N U A L R E P O RT 2 0 1 9 -2 0
