OPTIMISE Refugee Health Project

OPTIMISE is a four-year NHMRC-funded research project to improve the delivery of accessible, coordinated and high quality primary care for refugees and asylum seekers.

The project brings together academics and organisations from within the refugee health sector to develop and test innovative primary care solutions. 

North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) is one of three regions in Australia that has a high rate of refugee and asylum seeker settlement, and will be involved in implementing a model of practice facilitation to improve services for refugees and asylum seekers. 

Participating practices in NWMPHN are:

• Active Medical
• Calder Medical Clinic
• Cuthbert Medical Centre
• Deer Park Medical Centre
• Dianella GP Superclinic
• Gladstone Park Medical Centre
• Hillcrest Health Centre
• Meadow Heights Medical Centre
• New Leaf Medical
• Palmers Medical Centre
• St Luke Medical Centre
• Westmeadows Medical Centre

As part of the program, each practice receives:

• Six months of facilitated support to address key areas around delivering high quality primary health care
• A $2,000 grant
• A refugee health module add-on to their PEN CS system as a contribution for their efforts

This project is a partnership between La Trobe University, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network, cohealth, AMES Australia and the Victorian Refugee Health Network.