20 June 2012

Refugee health under the spotlight

Today marks both World Refugee Day and the 60th anniversary since New Zealand became a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Refugees (UNHCR). But according to AUT academic Dr Shoba Nayar it’s time to re-examine refugee resettlement in New Zealand.

Currently New Zealand accepts up to 750 refugees per year under the UNHCR agreement and is one of fewer than 20 countries to offer a resettlement programme, but that could be set to change, says Dr Nayar.

“Next week we’ll be taking a closer look at refugee health, adaptation and contribution to New Zealand as part of the 5th International Asian & Ethnic Minority Health & Wellbeing Conference.

“The government recently proposed changes to the 2009 Immigration Act that would deter asylum seekers – a move which could potentially impact upon our country’s positive reputation in refugee and humanitarian matters,” says Dr Nayar, Associate Director of AUT University’s Migrant and Refugee Research Centre.

It’s the first time there has been a dedicated refugee health stream featured at the conference. As part of the 5th International Asian & Ethnic Minority Health & Wellbeing Conference, AUT hosts internationally renowned refugee expert, Professor Derrick Silove from the University of New South Wales, Australia. He will discuss refugee resettlement from an Australian perspective and consider what experiences New Zealand can learn from.

“Refugees coming to New Zealand have fled political conflict and often arrive with a range of mental and physical health needs. Working with organisations such as Refugees as Survivors, our role is to help improve the health and wellbeing of refugee communities in New Zealand - this also includes how they adapt and contribute to life here. As a society, we need to enhance our understanding of health needs to ensure we’re providing responsive and targeted health care delivery.”

Professor Silove will speak next Thursday 28 June, 900-10.00am. Dr Nayar and other AUT researchers will also be presenting at the conference which takes place from 27 – 29 June at the University of Auckland's Tamaki Campus in Glen Innes. The wider conference looks at the ‘Social Environment, Migration and Health experienced by Asian and other Ethnic Minority communities in New Zealand’.

What: Professor Derrick Silove (University of New South Wales, Australia) discusses refugee issues at the 5th International Asian & Ethnic Minority Health & Wellbeing Conference.
When: Thursday 28 June, 9.00-10.00am.
Where: University of Auckland's School of Population Health, Tamaki Campus, 261 Morrin Road, Glen Innes.

More information about the conference can be found here.

About Professor Derrick Silove:

Professor Derrick Silove (M.B Ch.B (Hons I), M.D FRANZCP), specialises in the area of mass trauma, transcultural psychiatry and refugee and post conflict mental health. His specific interests are in post-traumatic stress disorder; anxiety disorders (particularly adult separation anxiety disorder); developmental psychology, asylum seekers, violence, war and post conflict, and ethics, human rights and health.

His team are at the forefront of research in the field of refugee and post-conflict mental health worldwide. He has played a key role in establishing services for traumatic stress amongst refugees and conflict-affected populations and in the anxiety disorders in general in Australia and internationally in post-conflict societies such as Timor Leste. He has been a consultant for a range of international agencies including the WHO, UNHCR and World Federation for Mental Health.

ENDS

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