FY Achievements and New Resources

December 10, 2025

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From the MRHP Chair, Dr Kym Jenkins AM

As we approach the close of the 2024–25 financial year, and therefore the end of the MRHP 2024-25 Activity Workplan, I want to take a moment to thank you, our valued partners, stakeholders, and community advocates, for your continued commitment to advancing equitable healthcare for migrant and refugee communities across Australia.

This year has been both productive and energising for the Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership Council. Together, we’ve achieved significant milestones. Most notably, we completed two key papers focused on strengthening CALD health data and aligning policy frameworks to better reflect the health priorities of our diverse multicultural communities.

The insights shared by Council members and contributors have been deeply thoughtful, grounded in lived experience, and unwavering in their call for reform. Our recommendations propose practical, actionable changes that we believe will help reshape health systems to be more responsive, inclusive and accountable.

Importantly, we have continued to foster a spirit of collaboration across professional sectors, government, and community that remains at the heart of the Partnership’s work. This is what gives our Council its strength: a shared commitment to listening, learning, and leading together.

Looking ahead, the new financial year offers us the opportunity to deepen this work. We will begin implementing a refreshed work plan, revisit and revitalise the cultural competency standards, and continue to advocate for structural improvements in areas such as multicultural health considerations in the rollout of artificial intelligence, digital inclusion, and equitable data governance.

On behalf of the Council and the Secretariat, thank you for your contributions, your expertise, and your belief in the mission of the Partnership. I look forward to continuing this important journey with you in 2025–26.

Warm regards,
Dr Kym Jenkins AM
Chair, Migrant and Refugee Health Partnership Council

Cultural Responsiveness in Mental Health Care Webinar

Embrace Multicultural Mental Health invites you to attend their online webinar on Monday the 30th of June from 1pm – 2pm (AEST).

What is included:

  • Build your foundational understanding of cultural competence and cultural responsiveness
  • Understand the key principles and practical implications of cultural responsiveness
  • Hear lived experience insights on the importance cultural responsiveness in safe and effective mental health care

Who is this for?

This session is designed for mental health service providers and individual practitioners seeking insights to work with clients from refugee and multicultural backgrounds.

Register for the free webinar via the link below.

New Forced Marriage in Australia Resources for Frontline Workers

Learn about Forced Marriage in Australia via the free resources created by Anti-Slavery Australia and My Blue Sky. The resources aim to help practitioners identify and respond to forced marriage—Australia’s most common form of modern slavery.

  • Frontline Worker Guide has definitions, best practices and referral pathways. You can save the free pdf guide here.
  • Free posters and flyers in 20 community languages explaining rights and support services are available for services upon request. To order printed copies, contact: ASAresearch@uts.edu.au

Pregnancy, Birth & Baby (PBB) Review Report

New insights are now published and available from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website. The goal of the review was to assess how well PBB meets the needs of women and parents/carers of young children, particularly in priority populations, as well as its alignment with existing services, relevance to health policy priorities, identification of service gaps, and overall cost-efficiency.

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing will continue to work alongside relevant industry partners to implement the recommendations outlined in the PBB report. Health direct welcomes any questions or feedback about this publication via email: Healthdirectteam@health.gov.au

FY Achievements and New Resources - Migrant & Refugee Health Partnership