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Health to me is more than just being free from an illness or disease, but it is the state of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It means having a well-functioning body, feeling content, feeling satisfied with life, and having a good relationship and supportive network of friends and family.

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(Migrant and Refugee Women's Health Partnership (Australia), 2019)

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For me, the most relevant aspect of Domain 7: Professional is competency standard 12.3. As a future RN, adhering to high ethical standards and delivering culturally responsive care is one of the most essential skills in ensuring that all patients, regardless of their cultural background, receives equal, safe, high-quality care. Having learned the importance of delivering person-centred and family-focused care, access and equity, quality and safety, dignity and respect, and effective communication, has improved my understanding of these essential principles. Moreover, I now feel that I am more capable of caring for patients of different cultural backgrounds.

Migrant and Refugee Women's Health Partnership (Australia). (2019). Culturally responsive clinical practice: Working with people from migrant and refugee backgrounds: Competency standards framework for clinicians. http://hdl.voced.edu.au/10707/646239

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Unemployment and job security is one social determinant that specifically relates to migrant/refugee health in Australia. Majority of migrants/refugees who were previously highly skilled and educated back in their home country end up working jobs outside of their profession or below their level of skill and qualification. This may be due to the pro-longed and expensive qualification process. Additionally, many overseas qualified professionals with high qualifications are often left unrecognised and underappreciated by their employers, leading them to feel a sense of doubt and disappointment (Ethnic communities’ council of Victoria, 2008).

Students from migrant/refugee families face various challenges and culture shock when pursuing education in Australia as they are exposed to an environment entirely different from their homeland. These may include learning a new language, developing new relationships with people of other cultural backgrounds, and adjusting to a new educational environment and trying to be a part of that environment (MYAN (Australia), n.d.).

To be able to afford housing and live in a secured place is essential for the health and well-being of migrants and refugees settling in a new country. While Australia is known for its high standard of living, migrants and refugees are among the few groups experiencing the hardship of poor housing condition. This is highly influenced by significant issues regarding high cost, lack of appropriate housing, inability to engage properly due to language barrier, unfamiliarity with the housing process, and experience with discrimination (Ziersch, Walsh & Duivesteyn, 2020).

Ethnic communities’ council of Victoria (2008). Real jobs: Employment for migrants and refuges in Australia. http://hdl.voced.edu.au/10707/394277

MYAN (Australia). (n.d.). Education and students from refugee and migrant backgrounds. https://myan.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/education_issue_05.pdf#:~:text=Education%20systems%20have%20a%20key%20role%20to%20play,social%20capital%20and%20resilience%20in%20children%20and%20youth.xvii

Ziersch, A., Walsh, M., & Duivesteyn, E. (2020, December 21). Housing and health for people with refugee- and asylum- seeking backgrounds: A photovoice study in Australia. Housing Studies, 37(9), 1598-1624.  https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2020.1857347

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Common health concerns among Afghanistan refugees 

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Common health concerns among Afghanistan refugees 

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Afghanistan has had more than 40 long years of extreme conflict, violence, and poverty, with the country’s humanitarian crisis continuing to deteriorate till this day. More than 8.2 million Afghans have forcibly left the country, making up the largest portion of refugees and asylum seekers (USA for UNHCR, 2021). Since 2013, more than 23,000 refugees have arrived in Australia. Upon arrival, they were granted different forms of status, including resettlement, evacuation, onshore protection, offshore processing, temporary protection, or onshore detention (Refugee Council of Australia, 2023).

Approximately 7-71% of Afghan refugees are reported to present LTBI (Latent Tuberculosis Infection), making it one of the most common health issues presented upon arrival. LTBI testing with preventative treatment and follow up is recommended for all ages (Denholm, Bailes & Francis, n.d.).

As humanitarian crisis continues to deteriorate Afghanistan, many healthcare services and immunisation programmes are damaged or destroyed, resulting in the inability of Afghan population to receive proper care. Therefore, majority of Afghan refugees are unimmunised and are at significant risk of developing vaccine presentable diseases (VPD) upon arrival to Australia. The DHC provides free vaccines for offshore refugee arrivals such as Measles/Mumps/Rubella, Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), Live Viral Vaccines (LVV), Live Attenuated Vaccines (LAV), and Tuberculin Skin Tests (TST) (Paxton & Singleton, n.d.).

Chronic HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) has been reported to be prevalent among people of refugee-like backgrounds. Because it is asymptomatic, is common among the refugees’ country of origin, and has effective treatment and vaccination available, universal testing is highly recommended. Moreover, a complete HBV blood test including HB surface antigen (HBsAG), is recommended. If tested positive, further assessment and follow up is required by the physician. (Maclachlan, Cowie, Isaacs & Davis, n.d.)

Denholm, J., Bailes, M., & Francis, J. (n.d.). Tuberculosis (TB & LTBI). Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/tuberculosis-tb/

Maclachlan, J., Cowie, B., Isaacs, D., & Davis, J. (n.d.). Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/hepatitis-b/

Paxton, G., & Singleton, G. (n.d.). Immunisation. Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/immunisation/

Refugees Council of Australia. (2023, May 19). Australia’s treatment of Afghan refugees. https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/australias-treatment-of-afghan-refugees-how-their-date-and-mode-of-arrival-matters-more-than-their-persecution/

USA for UNHCR. (2021). Afghanistan humanitarian crisis. https://www.unrefugees.org/emergencies/afghanistan/

WorldAtlas. (2021, February 24). Flags, symbols & currency of Afghanistan. https://www.worldatlas.com/flags/afghanistan

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Tinkling is Philippines' traditional dance and is considered one of the most popular folk dances and the oldest in the country. It derived its name from the long-legged bird called tikling and therefore, anyone who dances tinikling mimics the movements of a tikling bird. The dance consists of the use of two bamboo poles, which were once used by farmers to trap tikling birds. Tinikling is considered to be a representative of Filipino’s two main character traits: resilience and fun-loving (Valdaevilla, 2022).

Philippine Cultural Dance. (2018, August 5). The Tinikling in Philippines. https://phcultures.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-tinikling.html

Valdaevilla, R. (2022, September 2). Tinikling: The national dance of the Philippines with bamboo poles. Culture Trip.  https://theculturetrip.com/asia/philippines/articles/tinikling-the-national-dance-of-the-philippines-with-bamboo-poles

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Family means everything in Filipino culture. (Commisceo Global, n.d.)

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The Philippines has approximately 111 Indigenous languages and dialects. Tagalog and English are two of the most commonly used languages, with Tagalog being the official Filipino language. (Commisceo Global, n.d.).

Commisceo Global. (n.d.). Philippines – Culture, etiquette and business practices. https://www.commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/phillippines-guide

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Volleyball is one of the most popular sports in the Philippines. (Lozada, 2019)

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Volleyball is one of the six played sports in the Philippines that is mainly dominated by female players.  It is played both indoors and outdoors. Every year, they conduct world-famous commercial leagues which are the Philippine Super Liga, Premier Volleyball League, and Spiker’s Turf (Volleyball Facts, 2022).

Lozada, M. (2019, November 5). Shorthanded PH spikers still too much for Team Shine in PSL Super Cup debut. Spin.ph. https://www.spin.ph/volleyball/super-liga/philippine-women-s-volleyball-team-team-shine-philippine-super-liga-super-cup-mylene-paat-ces-molina-majoy-baron-a796-20191105

Volleyball Facts. (2022, March 10). Why is volleyball popular in the Philippines? (The sport-obsession of the Filipinos). https://volleyballfacts.com/why-is-volleyball-popular-in-the-philippines/

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Filipino chicken adobo. (EatingWell, 2018) 

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Adobo is one of Philippines’ signature dishes and one of the most popular, even among foreigners. This dish is cooked in a sauce made of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper. It is a cheap, simple, easy dish to make (W, 2023).

EatingWell. (2018, February 17). Filipino chicken adobo. https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/262791/filipino-chicken-adobo/

W, E. (2023, July 15). Why is chicken adobo popular? Uncover the secrets behind this mouthwatering dish. Cookindocs.com.  https://cookindocs.com/why-is-chicken-adobo-popular/

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The Saint Augustine Church in the municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. (Santos, 2021)

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Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia with more than 86% of Filipinos being Roman Catholic (Miller, n.d.).

Miller, J. (n.d.). Religion in the Philippines. Asia Society. https://asiasociety.org/education/religion-philippines

Santos, F. (2021, March 22). Remembering 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines. The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/regions/southeast-asia/

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Filipinos believe that physical and mental health are highly influenced by mystical, naturalistic, and personalistic theories (StudyCorgi, 2023).

Mystical – ancestral spirits, retributions from relatives, negative impacts in one’s soul

Naturalistic – lightning, rain, drafts, thunder

Personalistic – punishment by spirits or sorcerers

Nomoto, S. (2020, January 14). Indigenous Filipino healing practices. Cold Tea Collective. https://coldteacollective.com/indigenous-filipino-healing-practices/

StudyCorgi. (2023, June 13). Filipino culture values and practices in relation to health care. https://studycorgi.com/the-philippines-culture-and-views-on-health/