For refugees and asylum seekers arriving to Australia, there are many barriers to achieving positive health and wellbeing. Understanding and navigating the complexities of the Australian healthcare system, for instance, can be challenging for those of us who grew up here. For new arrivals, language and cultural differences create even further complexity.
That's where the Water Well Project comes in.
The Water Well Project is a not-for-profit organisation that connects volunteer medical and allied healthcare professionals with communities from migrant, refugee or asylum seeker background to provide free, tailored, culturally-sensitive healthcare information sessions with the support of an interpreter.
The Water Well Project currently operates in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania and works closely with local refugee support organisations to identify knowledge gaps in health; and deliver health information sessions based on the needs of the community.
Their service model is primarily focuses on building rapport and a two-way dialogue between our volunteer healthcare professionals and community attendees in an informal setting. Examples of session topics delivered include (but are not limited to) navigating the Australian healthcare system, healthy eating, exercise, mental health and child development.
The Water Well Project is looking for volunteer healthcare professionals and final year healthcare students who would like to help facilitate interactive health information sessions with refugees and asylum seekers in Tasmania.
The Water Well Project's next Hobart Volunteer Induction Session will take place on:
Monday: 8 April 2019 6:15pm-8:30pm You can check our eligibility criteria and RSVP here.
Open the Water Well Poster (PDF, 977.42KB)