Top Nurses Call For Compassionate Treatment Of Refugees

Top Nurses Call For Compassionate Treatment Of Refugees

26 October 2010

Politicians and policy-makers will be urged to remember the human element when responding to the needs of refugees, asylum seekers and detainees in Australia, at a senior nursing conference being held today in Alice Springs.

Ms Lindy Marlow will be concluding the second Community and Primary Health Care Nursing Conference hosted by the Royal College of Nursing, Australia with a call to nurses in hospitals and other health settings to take extra effort to understand the total health and social environment when providing care to refugee clients.

RCNA CEO Debra Cerasa said the current RCNA Conference of Community and Primary Health Care Nurses had provided a much needed forum in which nurses could discuss latest research and approaches to health management within this emerging health care specialty.

"Although all our speakers have stressed the importance of nurses in community settings, the poignant stories and experiences have particularly come from those working with refugees, asylum seekers and detainees.

"Access to appropriate and well prepared health professionals is critical for the health and wellbeing of these groups, and to allay community concerns.

"Our keynote speaker on the first day Sandy Eagar provided strong evidence to support the Government's decision to move women and children out of detention into the community, a move strongly supported by RCNA.

"But they will need support when they reach local communities and it is becoming clear that an appropriately prepared health workforce is now a key priority.

Today, Lindy Marlow will move the discussion into mainstream Australian hospitals and health services, to discuss improving their response to meeting the special needs of refugees," Ms Cerasa said.

"RCNA continues to call for funding for professional development in this specialised area which would support better coordination of resources and provision of care.

"Increased funding is urgently required for accessible and attainable education in: assessment, identification, and care management of victims of torture or other trauma knowledge of mental, physical, developmental and emotional needs of families and children ability to recognise and manage particular health conditions that may be more prevalent in countries other than Australia understanding of cultural and linguistic backgrounds to achieve appropriate provision of health care."

Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) is Australia's peak professional nursing organisation and is the Australian member of the International Council of Nurses. RCNA is a national membership organisation open to nurses and nursing students in all areas of the profession.

RCNA Media Contact:
Shane Lenson
Senior Nurse Advisor
m 0408 246 401
[email protected]
www.rcna.org.au

SOURCE: Royal College of Nursing, Australia