Supporting migrant and refugee health in Canterbury
Canterbury is home to a growing number of people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Everyone who makes the decision to start life in a new country faces challenges. There are many providers available to support and help refugees and migrants when they arrive in Christchurch.
People from refugee backgrounds, migrants and their families coming to New Zealand face a range of health challenges. These can include physical, mental and social challenges.
Help is readily available from various providers including interpreting services when necessary.
- Find out about local services available to help those who smoke to quit. You can also call Quitline (0800 778 778) or talk to your doctor.
Translation guidance: Unlocking Language Barriers
Ministry for Ethnic Communities | Te Tari Mātāwaka media release; 19th July 2023
The Ministry for Ethnic Communities have produced guidance that provides practical advice and information to support government agencies and other organisations in New Zealand to better communicate with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.
This guidance will equip you with valuable insights and practical tips to ensure smooth and effective translation processes and ensure New Zealand’s diverse communities have equitable access to information. It can be used to help your organisation:
- understand the importance of translation;
- enhance communication strategies;
- bridge language barriers; and
- connect and expand reach into diverse communities.
Our population has become and continues to develop into one with incredible diversity. Approximately 20% of Aotearoa’s population identifies as coming from an ethnic community (Asian, Continental European, Middle Eastern, Latin American, or African), 17% identify as Māori, and 8% identify as Pacific. It is estimated these populations will grow to 25% for ethnic communities, 19% for Māori and 10% for Pacific respectively by 2033, when compared to the total population.
- Read or download “Unlocking Language Barriers | Te Whakamahea Tauārai Reo” (Ministry for Ethnic Communities).
Wellbeing guides in migrant languages
Yellow Brick Road have published a series of downloadable wellbeing guides in English, Chinese, Samoan, Hindi and Tagalog. The resources cover a range of topics and will help you learn how to manage anxiety, boost your mental health and lower your stress levels.
Yellow Brick Road provides services for families of people experiencing mental illness and was previously known as Supporting Families in Mental Illness.
Working closely with local migrant groups and organisations
Community and Public Health works with local migrant and refugee groups alongside organisations and health services to protect the health of the community.
Staff attend community meetings including:
- Community Languages and Information Network Group (CLING).
- Interagency Network For Refugees and Migrants (INFoRM); and
- Health and Wellbeing Network (a subgroup of INFoRM).
Community and Public Health also networks with local organisations on refugee and migrant issues including:
- Pegasus Health;
- Christchurch Resettlement Services (CRS);
- Canterbury Refugee Council;
- Hagley Community College;
- Red Cross;
- Christchurch City Council; and
- Health and Disability Advocacy Service (part of the Health and Disability Commission).
Learn to ride with Bike Bridge
Bike Bridge is a free programme for former refugee and migrant women to learn to ride a bicycle – based at Addington School | Te Kura Taumatua.
The sessions are fun and you can also meet new people. Children welcome!
Bikes and helmets provided. No special clothes are required to participate.
This next programme begins on Wednesday 4th October 2023.
Participants will also have the opportunity to get a free or heavily discounted bicycle – as well as a lock and helmet – at the end of the programme.
The project welcomes female volunteers.
Contact Coordinator Lois Hill for more information (bikebridge[at]radbikes.co.nz).
Bike Bridge is supported by Community and Public Health.
Free health screening and first doctor’s visit
All refugees are entitled to a free health screening check for each family member. This includes asylum seekers applicants, Family reunification migrants and New Zealand quota system refugees.
Community and Public Health facilitates free health screening services for Family reunification migrants and asylum seekers applicants in Canterbury only. Staff will organise a GP practice and free first doctor’s visit for each family member with a Community Services Card. Interpreters will be provided where needed.
Contact the Community and Public Health Communicable Disease Nurse on 03 364 1777 to find out what services are available or to organise a doctor’s visit.
Pegasus Health facilitates a GP practice and free healthcare for quota refugees in Canterbury who have a Community Services Card and have been in New Zealand for less than 5 years.
Contact the Pegasus Refugee Nurse for more information (refugee.health[at]pegasus.org.nz).
Documents
- Former Refugees, Recent Migrants and Ethnic Communities Employment Action Plan (Ministry for Ethnic Communities 2022).
- Strategy 2022-2025: A pathway to an Aotearoa where ethnic communities feel at home (Ministry for Ethnic Communities 2022).
- East Asian, South Asian, Chinese and Indian Students in Aotearoa: A Youth’19 Report (University of Auckland 2021).
- A fair go for refugees: Resettlement in Aotearoa and Global Trends (Royal Society Te Apārangi 2021).
- Drivers of migrant New Zealanders’ experiences of racism (Human Rights Commission 2021).
- Best Practice Guidelines: Engaging with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities in Times of Disaster (Community Languages Information Network Group 2021).
- Communicating with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities during disaster: Observations and recommendations from New Zealand’s COVID-19 response (Community Languages Information Network Group 2020).
- Building cultural inclusion in active recreation and sport: Insights from Muslim women in active recreation and sport (Sport NZ 2020).
- Cross-Cultural Resource for Health Practitioners (eCALD).
- Refugee Health Care: A Handbook for Health Professionals (Ministry of Health 2012).
- Contact list for the Refugee and Migrant Service Sector in Canterbury (Canterbury Resettlement Services).
- Your rights when using a health or disability service in NZ and how to make a complaint – available in many languages (Health and Disability Commissioner).
- New Zealand Healthcare System – available in many languages (HealthInfo).
Downloads
Download or order resources from the Community Health Information Centre.
Links
- Guide to eligibility for publicly funded health services (Ministry of Health).
- InCommon initiative.
- Cross Cultural Resources for health professionals (eCALD NZ).
- Living in New Zealand (Immigration New Zealand).
- Migrant Connect from Citizen Advice Bureau.
- Mental Health Foundation.
- Health and Disability Advocacy Service NZ.
For infectious disease enquiries, contact:
Communicable Disease Nurse
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
For additional information, contact:
CANTERBURY
Canterbury Refugee Resettlement and Resource Centre
Ph: +64 3 377 2538
Christchurch Resettlement Services
Ph: +64 3 335 0311
Citizens Advice Bureau – Migrant Connect and Language Connect
Ph: 0800 FOR CAB (0800 367 222)
Four minutes to form a connection
InCommon has launched a new online quiz to help highlight the many things we all have in common.
InCommon is on a mission to explore the many similarities there are across communities – no matter the faith or ethnicity.
Team member Lana Hart says the short quiz aims to get people thinking about the things that make us unique and the similarities that bind us together.
“The quiz is a fun way for people to learn more about themselves and those around them.”
The quiz takes just four minutes to complete, and respondents answer questions like ‘do you like to dance?’ and ‘do you have friends who were born in a different country to you?’. They can then compare their results with others and they may be surprised by what they find.
The questions are designed to entertain but also make people think about forming new connections.
The quiz is just one of the ways the campaign is helping to give people a little encouragement to start a conversation with a stranger or someone who seems different to them.
“Campaign research said that little things we do – a smile, a small chat as we wait in a queue, a friendly greeting – can make a big difference to making everyone feel welcomed and safe,” Lana says.
- Take the InCommon quiz.
- Find out more about the InCommon campaign – created in response to the Christchurch mosque attacks.
- Follow InCommon on Facebook.
The Newcomers Guide to Christchurch and Canterbury
This Facebook page is for recent arrivals to the Canterbury region.
It’s designed to share what’s happening, provide key information on living here, and act as a place for those new to Canterbury to connect and share ideas.
Contact Christina Lewis for more information (03 378 6823).
