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.

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).

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.

Documents

• Unlocking Language Barriers | Te Whakamahea Tauārai Reo (Ministry for Ethnic Communities 2023).
• 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.

• Caring for Teeth.

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.

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).