Refugee Immigrant Health Services
At Ballarat Community Health, we are committed to ensuring that everyone in our community—regardless of their journey or background—has access to safe, compassionate and culturally appropriate healthcare. Our Refugee & Immigrant Health services provide dedicated support for individuals and families who are newly arrived in Australia, helping them navigate the health system, understand their wellbeing needs and settle confidently into life in the Ballarat region.
Our team works alongside GPs, allied health professionals, community services and settlement agencies to deliver thorough health assessments, ongoing care coordination and tailored health education.
We focus on early identification of health concerns, immunisations, chronic disease management and connecting people with the right services.
For people starting a new life far from home, good health is a vital foundation. Ballarat Community Health is proud to play a role in supporting refugee and migrant communities to thrive and participate fully in the place they now call home.
Refugee Health Program
The Refugee Health Program provides care for refugee communities, delivered by a Refugee Immigrant Health Nurse with expertise engaging with diverse cultural and language communities.
The role of the Refugee Immigrant Health Nurse is to support refugees, asylum seekers and those from refugee-like backgrounds with their health needs.
The program also supports all new migrants and those with complex health needs, in order to facilitate access to the appropriate care and support services, offering culturally appropriate health care to ensure the long term health of the client
- Health Assessments and coordination of referrals to local service providers
- Referral coordination to local health and community services
- Nursing and care coordination to health and community services
- Key worker support, providing coordination and nursing support to refugee and migrants with complex care needs
- Outreach services, providing clients with services, information, and resources that they might not otherwise access
- Referrals to Vitamin D Clinic
- Referrals to Paediatric Clinic
- Referrals to Multicultural Access Program
Vitamin D Clinic
Specialised Vitamin D Deficiency Care supporting strong bones, muscle health, and overall wellbeing.
Low vitamin D can affect energy, mood, bone and muscle health. Ballarat Community Health’s Vitamin D Clinic supports refugees and immigrants with vitamin D deficiency.
- Vitamin D deficiency assessments
- Personalised treatment plans
- Practical guidance to help restore and maintain healthy vitamin D levels safely
- Connect clients with any additional support required
Request a callback from the Immigrant Health Nurse. The Immigrant Health Nurse will respond on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Paediatric Immigrant Health Clinic
Caring for children and young people settling in Ballarat with general health concerns. Ballarat Community Health’s Paediatric Immigrant Clinic provides compassionate, culturally safe healthcare for children and young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
The clinic supports children and young people (0–18 years) from refugee, asylum seeker, and migrant families. Newly arrived families needing first‑time or catch‑up health checks and families seeking help with school readiness, development, or immunisation histories.
Our Refugee Immigrant Health Nurse will support referrals for the Paediatric Immigrant Health Clinic. Ask your GP to make a referral by contacting Ballarat Community Health to request a callback from our Refugee Immigrant Health Nurse.
The Clinic is ran by Dr David Tickell, a paediatrician with experience in immigrant health. Clinic visits are bulk billed and a GP referral is required.
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Comprehensive health assessments for newly arrived children and adolescents - Catch‑up immunisations and vaccination records support
- Developmental and learning checks, including referrals where needed
- Nutrition and growth support, anaemia and vitamin screening coordination
- Mental health and wellbeing support, including trauma‑informed care pathways
- Chronic condition management and care coordination with specialists
- Health system navigation, interpreters, and settlement support links