Refugee Week - a time for understanding and celebration

With an increasing number of refugees resettling in our region Tamworth Community Health is hosting a morning tea for local refugees and community representatives to celebrate Refugee Week from 17 – 24 June.

Manager of Tamworth Community Health Susan Heyman said the morning tea would feature a number a guest speakers highlighting the range of services now available to help newly resettled refugees start a new life in our community.

“Hunter New England Health has significantly expanded refugee health services this year including the appointment of two Refugee Health Nurses and a Clinical Leader for Refugee Health,” Ms Heyman said.

“We are also now operating regular free and confidential refugee health clinics within the community offering medical consultations, immunisations, health education and referral to men’s and women’s health clinics.”

Guest speakers for the information morning tea include:

• Dr Mitchell Smith, Director of NSW Refugee Health Service
• Dr Murray Webber, Clinical Lead for Refugee Health Hunter New England Health Service
• Joy Harrison, Refugee Health Nurse based at Uralla
• Bouakheua Sayabath, a Laotian refugee living in Tamworth

“We will also have a Dinka interpreter showcasing one of the 65 different languages our interpreter services team offer to non-English speaking people living within our region,” Ms Heyman said.

The morning tea will be held at the Banksia Room, Tamworth Community Health at 10am Wednesday 20 June 2007.

The media are invited to attend.

Contact: Clare Siddins

Phone: 0428 114 767